Contributions
962 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRandox Covid Contractsrose —17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI said that we would advise on the scope, and, as the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) pointed out, it could be discussed. I have not yet commented on the…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI thank the hon. Lady for the opportunity to intervene. I think the difference is that the VIP lane is about the identification of potential sources of supply. The procurement…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI just want to make clear what I said. We have been unable to locate a formal note of the meeting—that is what I have been told so far. That does not mean there isn’t one. We have…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI want to be very clear that the contract is published. The contract date is 30 March. The meeting that the hon. Member referred to was on 9 April. The contract was let and…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsAs I said very clearly, we will set out the scope and set out the documents. In a spirit of openness and understanding, we need to see how we as a country can rise to meet the…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsThe hon. Gentleman may have missed it when I said that we were abstaining. This is an important debate and I do take this issue very seriously. I am a professional of 30 years’…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsYes, we are both fellow procurement professionals—from the same industry, indeed. Procurement professionals like us feel very strongly that they would not have behaved to anything…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI said that I would also give way to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western).17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsLet me just finish this point and then I will give way, because I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is listening carefully and wants to hear these words. Hon. Members will be aware…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsThe most important thing in a global pandemic is to secure supply of something that is not widely available across the world—to get security of supply—and that is what we did. We…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI do not need any help on the procurement process. I can confirm that no exception was made for Randox. Of course, Ministers have a role in understanding what is happening with…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsMay I just make a little bit of progress, as I have been generous with my time? I am happy to be here and I am trying to answer hon. Members’ questions as best I can. I was a…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsThank you, Mr Speaker. Of course, we all know that everything I say will go on the record and hon. Members can challenge it.17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI do not have a definition of what is within scope, but we will provide that information. The NAO report said that “the ministers had properly declared their interests, and we…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsObviously, the hon. Gentleman knows that, personally, I was not there at the time. The meeting to which he refers was a courtesy call from the Minister to Randox to discuss RNA…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI will give way one more time—and I mean one more time.17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI will pull out that part of my speech now, so that people can hear it. We will give Members what information is held and in scope. We will come back to Parliament and deposit it…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsWith respect, I do not think that the right hon. Gentleman has ever been in government during a global pandemic. What I was answering was his question about the value to a company…17 Nov 2021HANSARDRandox Covid ContractsI am happy to give way again.17 Nov 2021