THE UK Government chose not to join an EU-wide ventilator procurement scheme as a “political decision”, the Foreign Office permanent under-secretary has said.
Speaking to the Foreign Affairs Committee this afternoon, Sir Simon McDonald was asked for clarity on why Number 10 had decided not to enter the scheme to get the crucial kit amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Initially Downing Street had said the decision was made because we were no longer a member of the EU as of January 31, but later said there had been a communication issue that led to missing out on the procurement scheme. The EU rejected there had been such a mix up.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove had even appeared on The Andrew Marr Show back in March insisting the UK did not join because of "some communication confusion".
READ MORE: Coronavirus: UK not in EU scheme due to 'communication problem'
The scheme was one of many coronavirus efforts the UK was entitled to take part in despite having left the EU legally in January.
The SNP had been critical of the Government’s response to the scheme, demanding “full transparency” over the failure to join the EU effort.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: SNP call for EU ventilator transparency from UK
This afternoon however, during the first virtual committee meetings as parliament reconvened, MPs were able to ask McDonald directly what had happened.
He told the committee: “We left the European Union on January 31.”
Pushed for further information: “All I can say is it is a matter of fact we have not taken part.”
He was then asked directly what policy advice ministers had received – or if not taking part was a political decision.
Here is the exchange on this issue at this afternoon's Foreign Affairs Committee. pic.twitter.com/7nBrtmjWzR
— Nick Gutteridge (@nick_gutteridge) April 21, 2020
McDonald admitted it was, telling the MPs: “It was a political decision, the mission … to Brussels briefed ministers on what was available, what was on offer.”
The controversy has been going on for weeks, after it first emerged the UK would not be joining the scheme back in March.
The SNP’s shadow health secretary Philippa Whitford called on the UK Government to explain “how the decision was taken, what the reasoning was and whether the devolved governments had any say in the matter”.
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