Facts

Michael Gove claimed that 97% of PPE purchased was “ready, fit-for-purpose and there on the front line”. 

A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care told Full Fact that 97% of PPE items by item count, procured in the 2020/21 financial year, were usable.

An Annual Report and Accounts was published by the DHSC detailing the fact that £2.6 billion of PPE was deemed “not suitable for use within the health and social care sector”. The “97% of equipment” figure from Mr Gove includes the £2.6 billion worth of equipment which, although maybe usable, was not “fit-for-purpose” or suitable for use “on the front line”.

For a fuller analysis, see Full Fact 

Verdict

This is misleading. Equipment was acquired, but not all of it was deemed suitable for use within the health and social care sector. 

We approached Michael Gove's office to give him a chance to comment, but received no response.