To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's publication entitled PPE procurement in the early pandemic, published on 17 November 2021, which of the contracts for supply of Personal Protective Equipment referred through the high priority lane pre-dated the eight-stage assurance process to assess and approve offers of support.

The ‘eight stage process’ refers to the introduction of a central clearance board on 4 May 2020. Of the contracts for personal protective equipment, 46 were awarded before that date. However, all suppliers who were evaluated by officials prior to the introduction of the central board, were evaluated on the same criteria for financial standing, technical compliance, price and ability to perform the contract as those who were evaluated after the introduction of the central board.