Labour calls on Matt Hancock to commit to recovering taxpayers’ money from companies who provided useless PPE

During health questions in the House of Commons, Jonathan Ashworth pressed Matt Hancock to apologise for the awarding of contracts to firms who could not provide working PPE.

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Health, said:

“The National Audit Office said there was a national shortage of PPE. Hundreds of NHS staff died, nurses resorted to using bin bags.

“His response was to hand out contracts to his pub landlord who Whatsapped him. He bought 25 million masks from a pest control firm that can’t be used in the NHS that cost £59 million. A hedge fund in Mauritius was handed £252 million but again the face masks supplied couldn’t be used, and a jeweller in Florida was paid £70 million for gowns that couldn’t be used.

“Matt Hancock should apologise and commit to recovering taxpayers' money from companies who provided this duff PPE.”