Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Not Addressed
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health & Social Care (the Department) and the UK Health Security Agency (the Agency) about the government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd (Randox) during the COVID-19 pandemic.2 Government correspondence and other documents relating to these contracts were published by the Department in February 2022, in response to a ‘Humble Address’ motion passed by the House of Commons in November 2021.3
Government Response Summary
The government provides background information on the contracts awarded to Randox Laboratories Ltd during the COVID-19 pandemic but doesn't respond to any specific recommendation.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government needed to act rapidly to create high- volume testing capacity in the UK. As part of these efforts, it awarded contracts for testing services and goods to various companies, including Randox. From March 2020 to December 2021, the Department of Health & Social Care (the Department) and Public Health England awarded 22 contracts to Randox, or its strategic partner Qnostics Ltd, with a maximum total value of £776.9 million. These contracts were for the supply of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing services and goods. Randox’s contracts for testing services included a £132.4 million contract awarded on 30 March 2020, and an extension to this contract worth £328.3 million awarded in October 2020. Both contracts were awarded without competition using emergency procurement rules that were called into force during the pandemic. By 18 October 2021, the latest data available to us, the Department had paid Randox £407.4 million for providing COVID-19 testing services and clinical goods. Based on a report by the National Audit Office, the Committee took evidence on Wednesday 18 May 2022 from the Department of Health and Social Care and the UK Health Security Agency. The Committee published its report on 27 July 2022 This is the government’s response to the Committee’s report.