Letter from the National Audit Office
Date 19 August 2021
Comptroller and Auditor General Gareth Davies
Dear Lord Alton
BBC REPORT ON DEFECTIVE FACE MASKS
Thank you for your email and subsequent letter detailing your concerns about the procurement of masks branded as “Fang Tian” as reported by the BBC on 28 July 2021.
As you may be aware, I reported on government procurement during the pandemic in November 2020, as well as reporting separately at that time on the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The latter report identified that hundreds of millions of pounds-worth of PPE will not be used for the original intended purpose.
Since those reports, my team have continued to monitor the Department of Health & Social Care’s management of this situation through our ongoing audit programme.
I am also aware of media reports such as the one your letter references, and in addition, members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have helpfully shared their concerns with me.
Indeed, the Department of Health & Social Care reported to the PAC in June this year that it had, up to that point, purchased around 32 billion pieces of PPE, of which 11.7 billion had been distributed to frontline staff, 12.6 billion were in storage and some 8.4 billion items that were not yet in the UK.
In addition, it was reported that checks on goods received so far had identified some 230 million items that were not fit for purpose.
Given the ongoing concerns that have been raised, I am undertaking further work in this area that I intend to report on this winter.
This report will look at a range of contracts entered into by government departments, including supplies of PPE, and examine how government is managing these contracts.
In addition, we will look at actions taken by government if the goods it has bought have not been received, are not what was expected, or are no longer required.
Thank you for taking the time to write to me.
I would be very happy to meet to discuss your concerns further. I will of course also send you a copy of the published report in due course.
Yours sincerely,
GARETH DAVIES
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London SW1W 9SP 020 7798 7000 www.nao.org.uk
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