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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Joseph Smith and Pamela Duncan

Firms handed £1.3bn in Covid contracts claimed £1m in furlough grants

NHS PPE United Kingdom
A worker gather supplies at the NHS’ National Procurement Warehouse at Canderside, Larkhall.
A worker gather supplies at the NHS’ National Procurement Warehouse at Canderside, Larkhall. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Companies handed a combined £1.3bn in controversial fast-track Covid contracts with minimal scrutiny also claimed at least £1m in furlough grants, it can be revealed.

Analysis of the accounts of companies that won lucrative emergency contracts to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS during the height of the pandemic shows 12 also claimed funds to put staff on furlough at taxpayers’ expense.

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