Former minister admits "some crooks" got PPE contracts

A former minister has admitted that some dishonest people likely gained contracts through a special fast-track system for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lord Agnew, who managed procurement, called the VIP lane necessary to address urgent shortages. In his testimony at the ongoing COVID inquiry, Agnew argued against claims that the VIP lane was a scheme for financial gain among politicians. He said it would be unreasonable to think there was a deliberate plan to enrich friends. He acknowledged that while some individuals who received contracts might not have been genuine, many were credible suppliers. Agnew highlighted the case of Baroness Michelle Mone, who is also linked to a multimillion-pound PPE contract. He expressed concern over the focus on the VIP lane, insisting that they were in a crisis and needed to work with any credible suppliers available. The inquiry's chair, Lady Hallett, defended the investigation's focus on the VIP lane, stating it aims to address public concerns. Agnew also discussed a previous decision to work with James Dyson's firm on ventilators, suggesting the technological efforts of Dyson justified the collaboration. He noted making the difficult decision to inform Dyson that his ventilators would not be selected was one of the hardest moments of his career. Agnew emphasized that Dyson invested significant personal funds during the pandemic, unlike many others. The procurement module of the inquiry is ongoing.