Public Sector
Frontline: PPE
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(Con)
What steps his Department is taking to support the procurement of
personal protective equipment for frontline public sector workers.
[903080]
(Colne Valley) (Con)
What his Department’s role is in the procurement of personal
protective equipment for frontline public sector workers.
[903099]
The Paymaster General ()
We are supporting the Department of Health and Social Care to get
personal protective equipment to those who need it. We have
expanded both overseas supply and domestic manufacturing and
scaled up our logistics network for delivering that PPE to the
frontline.
I have been proud to join Carshalton and Wallington residents who
are volunteering to deliver PPE, and, thanks to the voluntary
sector in my area, St Helier Hospital and GPs are well stocked.
What assurances can my right hon. Friend give me that as lockdown
measures are eased, PPE will continue to reach the frontline,
particularly in care homes and on public transport?
We have 400 officials working on ensuring that we have robust PPE
supply chains. I thank my hon. Friend and all those who have
volunteered alongside him. That last-mile delivery has been
critical in getting equipment to the many hundreds of
organisations that have needed it in our constituencies, and
volunteers have been critical to doing that.
Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking all the wonderful
volunteers on my patch who have been making scrubs and all the
local textile companies that have switched production to help
produce PPE, including McNair Shirts in Slaithwaite, which has
been producing gowns for my local hospital? It needs help in
getting specialist material, which is being bought up centrally
by Government and is sitting in a warehouse. Can my right hon.
Friend see whether we can get some of that material to McNair so
that it can make gowns for the local hospital?
I thank all those people in my hon. Friend’s constituency, no
matter which sector, for the work they have been doing on PPE. It
just shows what can be done when the private, public and third
sectors work together and are facilitated in doing that. If he
writes to me with the details of those organisations, I will see
what we can do to get them those raw materials.
Lockdown
Easing: Public Confidence
(New Forest West) (Con)
What steps he is taking across Government to increase public
confidence in the policy of easing the covid-19 lockdown.
[903082]
The Paymaster General ()
We recognise the range of emotions that people are feeling about
the lifting of restrictions. Tremendous sacrifices have been made
to get the virus under control, and incredible patience shown. We
published our recovery strategy on 11 May and each day our
measures follow the approach it sets out. Protecting public
health is, and must always be, our No. 1 priority.
To avoid a damaging second spike to our economy, is not a yard
more than sufficient?
We are determined to get the UK economy—including the hospitality
sector—up and running again and our schools reopened. Research
published in The Lancet last week showed that a physical distance
of at least 1 metre—or, if my right hon. Friend insists, 1.09
yards—
I do!
I thought he might. That was strongly associated with a lowered
risk of transmission, but a distance of 2 metres was likely to be
more effective. The advice therefore remains that wherever
possible the public should keep two metres from one another, but
the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies keeps that under
review.
(Perth and North Perthshire)
(SNP)
Can the Minister think of one specific episode in the past few
weeks that might have done more than anything else to undermine
the Government’s public messaging on covid? If she is struggling,
let me give her a clue: Specsavers.
The hon. Gentleman raises a serious point, but if he thinks that
that has undermined public health messages, I would strongly
suggest he might like to stop banging on about it.
The failure of this Government to take the Cummings episode
seriously has not just compromised the public messaging; it is
worse than that for them—it has compromised their credibility and
popularity, which have now taken the catastrophic nosedive they
thoroughly deserve. The public anger over has not abated, as the
right hon. Lady will see if she looks at her inbox. The whole
battle against covid has been wrecked by the pathetic protection
of this odd man. Is really worth all of this?
It is absolutely vital in every part of our United Kingdom that
people follow the advice of our respective chief medical
officers. They should do that not because I, the hon. Gentleman,
any politician or any adviser asks them to, but because it is the
right thing to do to protect our families, our communities and
our NHS and to get the economy moving again. I know that the hon.
Gentleman is angry, and many people are angry, but that is what
we need to focus on and that is the message we need to deliver. I
thank everyone in this country who has followed that advice,
because they are beating the virus.
Weddings:
Covid-19 Restrictions
(Winchester) (Con)
What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the
extent to which covid-19 restrictions will apply to weddings
taking place in (a) 2020 and (b) 2021. [903084]
The Paymaster General ()
In step 2 of our road map to recovery, we are committed to
exploring how we can enable people to gather in slightly larger
groups to better facilitate small weddings. My right hon. Friend
the Justice Secretary is exploring with ministerial colleagues a
range of measures to do that.
Thousands of couples planning to tie the knot this year have had
their plans postponed by the pandemic. The next few weeks, as we
approach midsummer day, would of course have been peak season.
Through no fault of their own, they will have none of the legal
protections of marriage until next year—maybe longer—when they
can reschedule. Will the Government consider creating a temporary
declaration of intent for those couples, backed by the state, so
that they are not prejudiced in law or taxation before they
finally take the plunge?
May I thank my hon. Friend for the campaign he has been running?
I have spoken at length with him on many Cabinet Office calls
about the cases he has in his constituency. I know that some of
his cases, and those of many hon. Members across the House, will
involve older people who are taking greater risks. Many people
will have gone back into work for the NHS and are deeply
concerned, should they become infected, what that would mean for
their fiancé/e. The Justice Secretary is apprised of the issue. I
think there are some difficulties with the particular route my
hon. Friend sets out, but I know that my right hon. Friend will
be bringing forward measures very soon.
Test and Trace
Application
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State
for Health and Social Care on the (a) development of the NHS test
and trace app and (b) trial of that app on the Isle of Wight.
[903086]
(South Shields) (Lab)
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State
for Health and Social Care on the (a) development of the NHS test
and trace app and (b) trial of that app on the Isle of Wight.
[903089]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the
Cabinet Office ()
The NHS test and trace service is already alerting the close
recent contacts of everyone who tests positive for the virus, so
that they can self-isolate to prevent the spread. The app is
intended to complement that service and continues to be piloted
on the Isle of Wight. Consideration is being given to next steps
in light of the wider NHS test and trace programme.
[V]
Given that we have known for months about the disproportionate
impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic
communities across the UK, I am confused as to why the Government
chose to trial the NHS contact tracing app on the Isle of Wight,
an island with an overwhelmingly white population. We know that
BAME communities are less likely to trust the app due to their
experiences of discriminatory policing and there is potential for
existing biases to be amplified by algorithms. With that in mind,
does the Minister still think that the Isle of Wight was the
right place to trial the app?
The hon. Gentleman makes a series of very important points. The
Isle of Wight was an appropriate place in which to trial the app,
because by definition trialling it in a geographically secure, as
it were, community was one way to make sure that we could conduct
that trial in an effective way and in a way that allowed us to
learn lessons rapidly. Trialling the app in other parts of the
United Kingdom would have posed significant challenges, but he is
absolutely right to remind us that the BAME community is more
affected by covid-19, and that there are elements within the BAME
community that have concerns about the exercise of state power in
maintaining public order and in other areas. We are very
sensitive to both of those issues. It is absolutely critical that
we continue to work to identify more effectively those factors
among the BAME community and others which predispose them towards
either catching the virus or suffering more adversely. Of course,
when it comes to our proud tradition of policing by consent and
the protection of civil liberties, we need to maintain those
traditions in order to command the confidence of all our
citizens.
Mrs Lewell-Buck
It’s been a shambles, hasn’t it? Announced in May, hiring paused
in mid-May, targets missed, tracers reporting that they have been
paid to sit at home and watch television as there is no work for
them—and now, changes to the app are being considered and it is
not going to be working properly until the autumn. Does the
Minister stand by his fulsome praise of the Health Secretary or
agree with scientists who said only days ago that the
Government’s whole test-and-trace strategy is simply not fit for
purpose?
Well, I think it is fit for purpose—not just that but it is an
effective way of ensuring that we can work together in order to
contain the virus. [Interruption.] The hon. Lady says from a
sedentary position that the scientists are wrong. I disagree with
her; I think the scientists are right.
Covid-19
Services: Private Provision
(Blaydon) (Lab)
What assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b)
value for money of Government contracts with private companies to
provide public services in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
[903103]
(Slough) (Lab)
What assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b)
value for money of Government contracts with private companies to
provide public services in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
[903114]
The Paymaster General ()
The private sector has been absolutely vital to the covid
response and continues to be so. Despite the speed that
procurement has had to run at, value for money and quality
remains our top focus.
Contact tracing is highly skilled and sensitive work. Does the
Minister really believe that recruiting contact tracers to work
for little more than the national living wage in call centres run
by Serco, which in 2019 was investigated by the Serious Fraud
Office, is the best way to deliver it?
If the hon. Lady has concerns about any aspect, whether related
to a company or practices within a company, she should please
raise it with the Cabinet Office. People have raised questions
about Serco which I understand have been answered, and it has
self-reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Mr Dhesi
Rather than relying on local authorities and public services,
since the start of the covid crisis, well in excess of £1.7
billion of taxpayers’ money has been spent by this Government on
outsourcing directly related to coronavirus. Given that normal
procurement rules have been suspended by the Government, there is
no requirement for companies to go through the usual competitive
bidding process to be awarded contracts. But lo and behold, major
Tory party donors and prominent Members on the Government
Benches—including Ministers, may I add—have major shareholdings
in or are inextricably linked to many of these firms. So will the
Minister commit to making public details of all negotiations
pertaining to those companies?
First, procurement rules have not been suspended. One of the
absolute key focuses is to ensure that the very many companies
that have stepped forward to help this nation in this response
are appropriate. We know that the quality of what they are
offering to procure has been absolutely where it needs to be. A
huge amount of work has gone into that. I pay tribute to the
civil service, and particularly to the procurement team in the
Cabinet Office, for the sterling work they have done.
With regard to any allegations the hon. Gentleman might make
against Ministers— and if he is referring to my hon. Friend in
the other place—the Cabinet Office has confirmed that there have
been no breaches of rules, and I would urge caution that, having
had those categorical responses, people are very careful about
what they say in impugning the character of colleagues.
Covid-19:
Government Contracts
(Nottingham South)
(Lab)
What steps his Department has taken to remove potential conflicts
of interest when awarding Government contracts in response to the
covid-19 outbreak. [903094]
The Minister without Portfolio ()
As we tackle the covid-19 outbreak, it is crucial that Government
contracts are awarded efficiently and responsibly to business of
all sizes. Paragraph 24 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
ensures this by requiring all contracting authorities to take
appropriate measures to effectively prevent, identify and remedy
conflicts of interest arising from the conduct of procurement
procedures.
Further to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Slough
(Mr Dhesi), it was clear that transparency is absolutely vital to
public trust in Government. Given that the Minister for the
Cabinet Office, , is responsible for the
Government’s policy on coronavirus procurement and is also a
shareholder in Faculty, a company that has recently been
contracted to provide coronavirus-related services to Government,
should not the Government make public the details of the services
that Faculty will be providing and Lord Agnew’s involvement in
any negotiations?
I refer the hon. Lady to the previous answer from my right hon.
Friend the Paymaster General, which sets out the situation very
clearly.
Personal
Protective Equipment
(Ellesmere Port and Neston)
(Lab)
What proportion of personal protective equipment procured by the
Government during the covid-19 outbreak was manufactured by UK
businesses. [903112]
The Minister without Portfolio ()
The whole country is facing an unprecedented crisis, and British
businesses have risen to the challenge with offers of help.
Businesses across the UK have stepped up to provide PPE including
aprons, face masks, visors and gowns. We have now signed
contracts to manufacture over 2 billion items of PPE through
UK-based manufacturers, and we have already taken delivery of
products from new certified UK manufacturers.
There is no doubt that the devastating consequences of covid-19
were exacerbated because the Government allowed stockpiles of PPE
to be run down and were too slow to anticipate the level of need
that there would be. Given that in a worldwide pandemic there
will inevitably be worldwide demand for PPE, do the Government
now accept that it was a mistake to place so much reliance on
overseas investors?
The Government have been working around the clock to get
frontline NHS and care workers the equipment that they need to do
their jobs safely and to save lives. Since the start of the
outbreak, we have delivered over 1.7 billion items of PPE across
the health and social care system within England. Plus, tens of
millions of items have been distributed to the devolved
Administrations. We will continue to pursue every possible
domestic and international option for PPE procurement.
