A TOP mandarin has backtracked on claims that it was a political decision by the UK Government not to take part in an EU procurement scheme for supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Sir Simon McDonald, the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, had made the remark as he gave evidence to a Commons committee.

Asked why Boris Johnson’s Government did not take part in the initiative which the UK was invited to participate in despite no longer being a member, McDonald said: “It was a political decision. The mission briefed ministers about what was available, what was on offer, and the decision is known.”

But last night, he said in a letter to MP Tom Tugendhat that “due to a misunderstanding, I inadvertently and wrongly told the committee that ministers were briefed” and insisted that a political decision on whether or not to participate was not taken.

The U-turn is just one of many twists and turns in stories on the procurement scheme.

READ MORE: Matt Hancock denies failure to join EU scheme was political move

Last week it emerged that the UK Government missed three chances to sign up to the EU scheme and was also absent from key talks about future purchases, choosing to make its own arrangements, despite the EU invites.

As a result of the EU scheme, European doctors and nurses have received the first of £1.3 billion worth of personal protective equipment through the joint procurement scheme involving 25 countries and eight companies.

A European Commission spokesman last week said that medical equipment, including masks, overalls and goggles, is now in excess of the number requested.

Meanwhile, the UK and Scotland have been struggling to get enough supplies, with some health and care workers forced to reuse gear designed for a single use.

The UK Government had previously said it was unable to join the EU’s procurement schemes as it had not received an email of invitation. It also missed out on mass procurement of medical ventilators by the EU after failing to take part in the parallel procurement scheme. It blamed emails from the EU being sent to an out of date email address.

Responding to McDonald’s original remarks, the SNP’s Alyn Smith had described the comments as “damning”.

“That this was a ‘political decision’ by the UK Government, rather than a logistical error, that prevented the UK from securing vital PPE supplies for our frontline staff tackling the coronavirus pandemic is damning,” said Smith.

“UK Government ministers were briefed about the Europe-wide scheme but chose to reject vital protective equipment due to its narrow Brexit ideology.

“It would be unacceptable if anyone has decided to put politics before the urgent need to save people’s lives.

He added: “Governments across the UK have a duty to work together and with international partners to tackle the pandemic effectively. The UK Government must now urgently explain why it took a political decision to reject vital PPE supplies.”

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