We are disappointed that the Department lacks adequate controls over its inventory and, four years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, still does not have a plan for stockpiling for future pandemics. The Department does not know how much inventory it currently holds as it did not undertake inventory counting Department of Health and Social Care2022–23 Annual Report and Accounts 7 procedures for its 2022–23 accounts. The Department plans to dispose of COVID-19 inventory that it considers unusab...

We are disappointed that the Department lacks adequate controls over its inventory and, four years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, still does not have a plan for stockpiling for future pandemics. The Department does not know how much inventory it currently holds as it did not undertake inventory counting Department of Health and Social Care2022–23 Annual Report and Accounts 7 procedures for its 2022–23 accounts. The Department plans to dispose of COVID-19 inventory that it considers unusable or excess to requirements, including nearly all of its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stock. The Department procured £13.6 billion of PPE to resp Type: conclusion | Number: 5 | Response status: accepted Government response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. stock originally procured for the COVID-19 pandemic where possible and appropriate. For a portion of this excess stock, it is possible to implement dynamic stockpiling (where pandemic preparedness stock is rota