Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the referrals of (a) Excalibur Healthcare, (b) JD.com, (c) Monarch Acoustics Ltd and (d) Nine United Ltd to the high priority lane for PPE supply during the covid-19 outbreak were made by (i) special advisers, (ii) civil servants or (iii) ministers in his Department.

On 17 November 2021, the Department published information relating to the teams and individuals who referred offers of support that were triaged using the high priority lane. Our records indicate that offers from Excalibur Healthcare, JD.com and Nine United Ltd were received and referred by the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Rt hon. Matt Hancock MP) and directed to the high priority route by the Director General for the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. The offer from Monarch Acoustics Limited was received and referred by the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.