£10bn Wasted on Covid PPE, Inquiry Finds

The inquiry’s fifth module found a fundamental lack of readiness for the pandemic, with Wales entering the crisis without a single in-date FFP3 respirator mask in its emergency stockpile.

Baroness Hallett, the inquiry chair, said billions of taxpayer pounds were lost on PPE that could not be used, while frontline workers faced critical shortages.

The report also criticised the government’s opaque procurement processes, which favoured companies with political access.

Campaign groups said the findings confirmed that ministers misled the public and Parliament about the adequacy of preparations.