Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the PPE contracts awarded to Unispace Global Ltd were novated to Unispace Health LLP, now Sante Global LLP.
Answered by Will Quince
On 16 December 2020, contracts under Unispace were novated to Sante Global LLP, whom at the time were Unispace Health Products LLP, by a deed of novation made between the Department, Unispace and Sante Global LLP.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Unispace Global Ltd fulfilled its contractual obligations on all PPE contracts it was awarded prior to its novation to Sante Global LLP.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department contract with Unispace Global Ltd for gloves was not fulfilled prior to that contract being novated to Sante Global LLP. However, in July 2022, a settlement was reached and the contract has now performed.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he held discussions with lobbyists for Sante Global LLP between April and September 2022.
Answered by Will Quince
There were no discussions held.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant the Answer 15 November 2022 to Question 83599 on NHS: Protective Clothing, when he plans to publish details of legal fees for disputed contracts.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department continues to undertake due process on disputed contracts. While it would potentially be prejudicial to the legal process to provide the information requested, the Department expects to publish a summary of the total legal fees when the contract resolution process is concluded.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant of the Answer of 9 November 2022 to Question 69576 on NHS: Protective Clothing, what the employment arrangements are for people involved in resolving contractual disputes relating to personal protective equipment.
Answered by Will Quince
These staff are employed on temporary contracts.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant the Answer 9 November 2022 to Question 69577 on NHS: Protective Clothing, whether his Department has taken steps to include legal fees for disputed contracts in its budget; and when and in what format he plans to publish the forecast for these costs.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department plans to include legal fees for disputed contracts in its budget. Further information on these costs will be available in due course.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much unused PPE has been (a) donated, (b) sold, (c) recycled, and (d) incinerated from the start of the covid-19 outbreak to date.
Answered by Will Quince
The information requested is currently being collated and centrally validated.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
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 9 November 2022 to Question 78673 on NHS: Protective Clothing, how this PPE is stored; and how much it is costing per day to store.
Answered by Will Quince
The majority is stored in sites in the United Kingdom in containers, warehouses and supplier storage and approximately 120 million items are currently stored in China. The cost of storage is £770,000 per day.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to dispose of unused PPE in the Government's possession.
Answered by Will Quince
As of October 2022, the Department holds 13.2 billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE). We are maintaining sufficient supplies to respond to any future increases in demand. The Department is reducing excess stock, including through sales, repurposing, domestic and international donations and recycling. In addition, the Department is also resolving disputed contracts to enable the affected PPE to be used, replaced or refunded.
Asked by: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the amount of unused PPE in hid Department's possession.
Answered by Will Quince
As of October 2022, the Department holds 13.2 billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE). We are maintaining sufficient supplies to respond to any future increases in demand. The Department is reducing excess stock, including through sales, repurposing, domestic and international donations and recycling. In addition, the Department is also resolving disputed contracts to enable the affected PPE to be used, replaced or refunded.