Oral Answers to Questions

Elliot Colburn Excerpts

Thursday 11th June 2020 Commons Chamber

[Chloe Smith]

Yes, I do, and there are two points to make here. First, the Government have taken unprecedented steps to support the economy through the immediate crisis, looking towards a strong and sustainable recovery. Secondly, I think we all recognise that digital payments have positively transformed the way that many people buy things and transact, and we are committed to supporting those payments while protecting access to cash for those who need it.

[Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to support the procurement of personal protective equipment for frontline public sector workers.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

What his Department’s role is in the procurement of personal protective equipment for frontline public sector workers.

[The Paymaster General (Penny Mordaunt)]

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.

[Elliot Colburn]

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?

[Penny Mordaunt]

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.