Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2021 to Question 79399 on Coronavirus: Protective Clothing, which four contracts for personal protective equipment referred through the high priority lane were subject to the eight stage assurance process.

There were 111 contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) awarded to 50 suppliers referred through the high priority lane. Some suppliers were awarded more than one contract.

In our previous response of 25 November, we stated that 46 of these contracts were awarded before the introduction of a central clearance board on 4 May 2020. The central clearance board examined individual contracts which were being agreed. Sixty five contracts were awarded to suppliers after this date. The suppliers and the number of contracts awarded to each supplier is shown in the following table.