The Times revealed that about 50 million masks bought without a tender had been deemed unusable for frontline healthcare workersThe National Audit Office is to investigate government contracts for protective equipment awarded at the height of the pandemic amid an outcry over the decision to spend more than £150 million on unusable masks. Yesterday The Times revealed that about 50 million masks bought without a tender process from Ayanda Capital, a London-based family office with no experience of government contracts, had been deemed unusable for frontline healthcare workers. The government has admitted during legal proceedings that concerns about the safety of the masks meant they cannot be used under existing NHS requirements. It has now emerged that the NAO is to launch an investigation into PPE contracts after Labour demands for an inquiry. In a letter to Rachel Reeves, shadow minister for the Cabinet

Source: The Times August 06, 2020 15:56 UTC