Provision of PPE to third parties: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for a full list of instances where PPE was given away for free or at a reduced price to third parties - including charities - during the pandemic (March 2020 onwards).

For each instance, please include:

• the value (amount SG had paid for it)
• what type of PPE i.e. facemasks (including the number)
• what org took ownership of the PPE
• when it was handed over
• any information on where it went/what it was subsequently used for
• the reasons the PPE was sold/given away i.e. it was depleted/out-of-date/lack of storage space.

You clarified that your request referred to pandemic related PPE, and did not relate to PPE provided to Scottish health and social care and Public Sector organisations.

Response

Below is a copy of most of the information you requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government (SG) does not have some of the information you have requested. During the Covid-19 pandemic, PPE related to the pandemic was distributed on behalf of SG by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS). The information provided to SG by NSS was provided as part of the evaluation process for larger donations and therefore may not reflect the final number of donations or items donated. SG would not as a matter of routine request the prices paid for items during the evaluation process, but where possible, approximate values have been given. Precise dates that the PPE was handed over are not held by the SG, although where possible we have provided approximate dates.

However, if you require more precise information you may wish to contact NSS at nss.foi@nhs.scot who may be able to help you.

Around February 2021 a donation of type IIR masks and hand sanitiser was made to the FareShare organisation in Tayside and Fife, Grampian, Edinburgh and Glasgow for distribution from foodbanks. The products were unlikely to be used within the Health & Social Care sector in Scotland before their expiry date, and the masks were donated to be used as non-medical face coverings. In total, 8 pallets of masks (140,000 masks) and 9 pallets of hand sanitiser (2,250 x 500ml bottles) were donated.

Around September 2021 a donation of PPE was made to KidsOR for distribution to African nations including Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia for use in healthcare. The stock involved in this scheme was identified by NSS as unlikely to be used within the Health & Social Care sector in Scotland and has been made available to international partners on that basis. In total, approximately 1,012,080 FFP2 masks, 388,880 FFP3 masks, 1,942,190 goggles, 949,600 visors and 18,544,000 type IIR masks were donated with an approximate value of £10.9m. The press release containing information about this donation can be found on the SG website.

On 23 December 2021 a donation of four pallets of type IIR masks (approximately 64,000 masks with a value at donation of approximately £6,400) was made to four foodbank hubs - Tayside and Fife (Transform), Central and Edinburgh (Cyrenians), Glasgow (MoveOn), and Grampian (CFINE) - for use as face coverings by foodbank volunteers. These masks were superseded by a different type and were unlikely to be used within the Health & Social Care sector in Scotland before their expiry date.

In early 2023, a donation of approximately 720,000 FFP3 masks (with an approximate value of £1.735m) was made to KidsOR for distribution to African nations including Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia for use in healthcare. These masks were superseded by a different type and were unlikely to be used within the Health & Social Care sector in Scotland before their expiry date.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.