Top civil servant says ministers made a ‘political decision’ to DELIBERATELY snub EU schemes to buy equipment to help coronavirus fight – after Downing Street insisted it missed out because of ‘communication problems’
Boris Johnson‘s ministers deliberately snubbed EU efforts to buy equipment to help the fight against coronavirus – despite claiming it had been an accident, a senior civil servant revealed today.
Sir Simon McDonald told MPs it had been a ‘political decision’ by the Government not to take part in Brussels-orchestrated efforts to bulk-buy protective equipment.
His evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee today raises questions about the Government’s account of what happened.
Boris Johnson’s administration has previously claimed that ‘communication problems’ caused by missed emails had meant the UK did not take part in a procurement scheme for ventilators and PPE.
Sir Simon, the permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, told MPs officials briefed ministers on what EU schemes were still open to the UK, even though it left the bloc at the end of January.
Asked why the UK was not involved in EU procurement, Sir Simon said: ‘We left the European Union on January 31.’
But pressed by Labour MP Chris Bryant, who said the UK had ‘every right’ to participate in the schemes, Sir Simon said: ‘All I can say is, as a matter of fact, we have not taken part.’
Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat asked Sir Simon whether it was a political decision by ministers.
‘It was a political decision,’ he said.
But Health Secretary Matt Hancock this evening directly contradicted the senior mandarin.
Fronting the daily news conference he said: ‘As far as I’m aware there was no political decision not to participate in the scheme.’
He added that the UK has subsequently joined the procurement group but ‘that scheme has not yet delivered a single item of PPE’.
Sir Simon McDonald told MPs it had been a ‘political decision’ not to take part in Brussels-orchestrated efforts to bulk-buy protective equipment.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock at the daily news conference this evening
British officials at the UK Mission to the European Union in Brussels ‘briefed ministers about what was available, what was on offer, and the decision is no’, he added.
The EU has ordered €1.5billion (£1.3billion) worth of protective masks, gowns and gloves for doctors and nurses.
Some 25 European countries and eight companies are involved in the joint PPE procurement scheme but the UK will miss out because it did not take part in any of the three rounds of bulk-buying which were first launched by the EU in February.
This was despite being invited to do so.
Although Brexit took place on January 31, the UK remains in a transition period aligned with Brussels until the end of the year at least – with calls for it to be extended.
Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat (pictured) asked Sir Simon whether it was a political decision by ministers. ‘It was a political decision,’ he said
On March 26, Downing Street claimed there had been a ‘mix up’ which meant emails from the EU about the procurement scheme were not received.
A Government spokesman said at the time that ‘owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic’.
The lack of British involvement in the schemes has led to claims that it was motivated by Brexiteer ideology in Mr Johnson’s administration – a claim denied by Downing Street.
Naomi Smith, of pro-EU campaign Best for Britain, said: ‘If it was a political decision not to join Europe-wide schemes to bulk-buy PPE and other essential medical equipment, then the Government prioritised its own image over the country’s health.
‘That decision has been disastrous. Frontline workers deserve much better.
‘We urge the Government to seek participation in future schemes as soon as possible, so we can source the medical supplies Britain’s hospitals and care homes desperately need.’