By stewartb

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has just published its latest report, on Module 5: Procurement. (see https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/09094028/E03444965_Covid-Inquiry-M5-Inquiry_Web-Accessible.pdf )

The Inquiry’s overarching conclusions for this module focus on: (i) the UK’s unpreparedness in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other clinical supplies for a pandemic, including below-target volumes and expired equipment in national pandemic stockpiles; and (ii) huge levels of waste amongst the PPE procured.

A search of the document for references specific to ‘Scotland’ yields no especially or uniquely damning findings to ‘excite’ committed opponents of the SNP and the Scottish Government. Nevertheless, the search did throw up some references worthy of note.

On liaison between UK government and devolved administrations over supply of PPE:

From Para 2.100. ‘Despite this regular contact, … that there were also challenges in 2020 with accessing sufficient data about the UK government’s stocks of PPE, which initially impacted Scotland’s PPE procurement decisions. ‘

In Wales, Andrew Slade (Director General, Economy, Skills and Natural Resources in the Welsh Government from January 2018 to April 2022 and Director General, Economy, Treasury and Constitution from April 2022 to March 2024) told the Inquiry that arrangements in England appeared to be “very fragmented” and there was “no assurance on how and when they would supply PPE to the four nations to replenish stock”. (my emphasis)

‘In Northern Ireland, Tim Losty (Director of International Relations in The Executive Office from 2012 to 2021) told the Inquiry that, at times, the UK government: “came across as disinterested in working with, or hearing the concerns of the Devolved Administrations and this was sometimes reflected in the attitudes of some UK officials”.

‘Although sharing of PPE between the four nations improved as the pandemic progressed, the devolved administrations procured the majority of their own.’

On domestic supply chain development:

Para 4.42. ‘Of 96 new PPE contracts awarded by NHS National Services Scotland during the pandemic, all of which were successfully delivered, three contracts went to new Scottish suppliers as a result of Scotland’s domestic ‘make’ initiatives.

‘By April 2021, approximately 88% of Scotland’s PPE (by value, excluding non-sterile examination gloves) was domestically manufactured. .. the investment of £102.7 million in Scottish suppliers resulted in £66.7 million of additional gross value added (the value generated in the production of goods and services) and supported 1,400 jobs, with an estimated eight-to-one multiplier effect for local spending.’

Comparing levels of waste:

Para 7.19: ‘The differences in the nature and scale of the procurement and distribution of healthcare equipment across the UK and in how data were collected during the pandemic meant that direct comparisons of data across the four nations of the UK were difficult to draw. However, to illustrate the scale of the waste:

In total, the UK government wrote off £9.9 billion of unused PPE ….

‘In Scotland, between 2020 and 2023, approximately £8.35 million of healthcare equipment, including testing kits and PPE, was written off

‘In Wales, between January 2020 and April 2022, approximately £12 million of PPE was written off.

‘In Northern Ireland, between 2022 and 2025, approximately £15.9 million of healthcare equipment was written off …’

Imagine reaction if the relative write off amounts were unfavourable for Scotland!

And finally, on the current situation:

Para 1.57. ‘Shortages in the stockpiles at the time of the next pandemic remain an ongoing risk. With the exception of Scotland, target volumes of PPE across the UK are not being met. In December 2024, June 2025 and September 2025, the stockpiles in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were short of supplies.’

Again, imagine reaction if Scotland was the ‘exception’ for negative reasons!

Now, the Inquiry does criticise devolved government in Scotland as well as other devolved governments and Westminster government. But there are relatively positive findings too for Scotland! The National recently reported on this same report from the UK Covid 19 Inquiry on procurement. But why no mention in its reporting of relative positives about Scotland? The ones above were NOT hard to find.