Conclusion 21

The two Boardman reviews conducted in 2020, of Cabinet Office COVID-19 Communications Procurement13 and government procurement in the pandemic14 also recommended improvements to due diligence procedures, including verifying that a suggested supplier is appropriate for the requirement, accurate and timely record keeping, and creating a clear process for managing risk regarding conflicts of interest (actual or perceived). The final report on procurement recommended improving information available to procurement teams on technical specifications. The Government has accepted 7 Public Accounts Committee, Whole of Government Response to COVID-19, July 2020 8 Public Accounts Committee, Covid-19: Supply of ventilators, Nov 2020 9 Public Accounts Committee, COVID-19: Government procurement and supply of Personal Protective Equipment, February 2021 10 Public Accounts Committee, Department of Health and Social Care 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts, June 2022 11 Public Accounts Committee, Management of PPE contracts, July 2022 12 Public Accounts Committee, Government’s contracts with Randox Laboratories Ltd, July 2022 13 Boardman Review of Cabinet Office COVID-19 Communications Procurement 14 Boardman Review of Government procurement in the COVID-19 pandemic 8 PPE Medpro: awarding of contracts during the pandemic the Boardman recommendations and has said that it is in the process of implementing them.15 The Government has also accepted recommendations of the National Audit Office in relation to procurement practices and managing contract risks.16