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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Rowena Mason Whitehall editor

PPE bought via ‘VIP lane’ was on average 80% more expensive, documents reveal

A person dons PPE as part of the new coronavirus precautions
Millions of pounds worth of PPE was supplied by companies referred through a special ‘VIP lane’ by ministers during the pandemic. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

PPE was on average 80% more expensive when the government bought it from firms referred through a special “VIP lane” by Conservative ministers, MPs and officials, new information has revealed.

The Good Law Project, which has long been investigating PPE deals during the Covid pandemic, said internal government documents showed that the unit price paid for items under VIP lane contracts was up to four times higher than average.

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