Conclusion 14

There are two ongoing investigations which significantly limit what we are able to comment on or publish at this stage. They are, as previously mentioned, a National Crime Agency investigation into PPE Medpro and the House of Lords Commissioners for Standards investigation into the conduct of Baroness Mone. There is also a civil case initiated by the Department against PPE Medpro seeking to recover taxpayer’s money in relation to the second contract. We are conscious of the need for scrutiny of these matters and of the Resolution of the House of 6 December that there should be “examination of the process by which contracts were awarded through the High Priority Lane”.6 However, as the Public Accounts Committee does not have access to all the relevant paperwork, other bodies are better equipped to investigate the specific circumstances of the awarding of contracts to PPE Medpro and whether any laws or rules were broken. We are mindful that the information we hold could impact on the outcomes of any of these serious investigations and this has informed our decision on publication.