MP blasts Government awarding billions in untransparent PPE contracts while providing no support for the excluded

On the floor of the House of Commons last night, South Lakes MP Tim Farron slammed the Government for awarding billions of pounds in untransparent contracts for PPE while providing no support for people who have been excluded from the Government financial support schemes.

This week the National Audit Office (NAO) reported that £10.5bn worth of Government contracts were awarded 'directly without a competitive tender process'.

The NAO have criticised the Government for 'a lack of transparency and adequate documentation of some key decisions, such as why particular suppliers were chosen or how government identified and managed potential conflicts of interest'.

Speaking in Parliament, Tim said: "What is galling for so many people is the £10.5 billion of contracts given out without proper tender processes and without transparency.

"If we contrast that with the 3 million people in this country - people who have been self-employed for a short time, company directors of small limited companies and many others - who have been completely excluded from support.

"A small fraction of that amount of money would have kept food on their tables and a roof over their head."