The row over the EU scheme is heating up. They are moaning in France as well.
Andrew Neil
@afneil
Row rumbles on over why UK did not participate in EU PPE procurement schemes. Reasons given by UK are all over the place. But, perhaps more pertinent, no PPE has yet been procured by this Brussels programme.
7:24 am · 23 Apr 2020·
Twitter.
Andrew Neil
@afneil
My understanding: under EU joint procurement programme, Brussels seeks suppliers + signs “framework contracts” with them. Then up to national governments to make the orders. Brussels docs estimate: PPE to arrive from 2 to 18 weeks of orders placed. For ventilators, 10 to 52 weeks
Graham Weaver
@GrahamWeaver13
·Replying to
@afneil
Sounds like the government made the right choice by not wasting time on this on this venture.