Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Committee takes evidence on Department of Health's 2021-22 Annual Report and Accounts
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), we took evidence from the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2021–22.1
Government Response Summary
The government states it regularly updates the Committee on PPE inventory controls, disposal, and commercial resolution through quarterly updates and a March 2023 strategy document. It details how SCCL manages the PPE supply chain, inventory controls, and disposal, and how the Contract Dissolution Team works to recover value from suppliers.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented Since the pandemic, the Department of Health and Social Care has kept the Committee regularly updated on personal protection equipment (PPE) inventory controls, disposal activity and commercial resolution activity. Through the quarterly PPE updates, the department provides the Committee with updates specifically relating to PPE stock management; disposals and associated costs; running costs of PPE storage; and dissolution activities including legal proceedings. The most recent update was shared with the Committee in June 2023, with the next update due at the end of summer 2023. In March 2023, the department also wrote to the Committee setting out the strategy for the future of PPE. This strategy sees Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL) manage the PPE supply chain for business-as-usual distribution to health and care setting and responsibility for maintaining adequate inventory controls. SCCL ensures that inventory controls are in place across all warehouses and reports are produced on a periodic basis to inform future procurements and excess stock disposal plans. In addition, SCCL will continue to deliver the department’s plan to dispose of remaining excess PPE including by product recycling and energy production through waste processes. As the Committee will be aware, the Contract Dissolution Team within the department remain committed to recovering maximum value from suppliers which have failed to deliver against their contractual terms. The department continues to investigate contracts where there is some degree of dissatisfaction and will continue to report to the Committee on this through the quarterly updates.