Ministers have been accused of “putting lives at risk” after a top civil servant revealed the UK took a “political decision” not to take part in a European Union scheme to bulk buy ventilators and protective kit.
Downing Street previously suggested the UK missed out on the scheme due to an “email mix up”, something contradicted by top Foreign Office civil servant Sir Simon McDonald this afternoon.
Sir Simon said officials briefed ministers on what schemes were still open to the UK and they took a “political decision” to refuse as “we left the European Union on January 31”.
Appearing before the Foreign Affairs committee, he said officials had “briefed ministers abut what was available, what was on offer, and the decision is known”.
So we are now members of that scheme. However, as far as I know that scheme hasn’t yet delivered a single item of PPE.”
Matt Hancock
Health Secretary Matt Hancock denied Sir Simon’s claims at the Downing Street press conference this evening.
He said: “I have spoken to the Foreign Secretary and as far as I’m aware there was no political decision not to participate in that scheme.
“When we did receive an invitation in the Department of Health, because it came to the Department of Health, it was put up to me to be asked. And we joined.
“So we are now members of that scheme. However, as far as I know that scheme hasn’t yet delivered a single item of PPE.”
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “First we were told the Government missed an email invitation to join the EU procurement scheme. Then we were told the decision not to take part was a political decision. Now we are told that the Government did sign up to the scheme.
“This is not a trivial matter. Ministers needs to explain what has happened and who is speaking for the Government on this matter.”
What is going on here?
When the UK Government were initially asked about participating in the EU scheme in March the prime minister’s spokesman responded “no” as the UK “was outside the European Union”.
These remarks were widely reported on March 26 and condemned by opposition MPs, with one claiming Boris Johnson was putting “Brexit over breathing”.
After the widespread condemnation, Downing Street then clarified the comments to say: “Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“As the Commission has confirmed, we are eligible to participate in joint procurements during the transition period, following our departure from the EU earlier this year.
“As those four initial procurement schemes had already gone out to tender we were unable to take part in these, but we will consider participating in future procurement schemes on the basis of public health requirements at the time.”
Sir Simon’s remarks this afternoon appear to tally with the original comment from Number 10.
Mr Hancock, when questioned this evening, looked surprised by Sir Simon’s comments but took the opportunity to put on the record that he personally had approved and signed off on the scheme.
We now have three conflicting versions of events, from Downing Street, Sir Simon and Mr Hancock. With Parliament reconvened, MPs will no doubt try to seek further clarification tomorrow.
