Simon McDonald

The government is facing fresh questions about The Time it took to joining a EU scheme to the source of medical equipment.

officials have insisted That they did not receive in the UK, a first invitation In Time because of communication problems.

But Brussels sources Told The Bbc That was in the UK plenty of opportunity in the scheme.

On Tuesday, a government official.

Last month the government was criticised for buying a member of the EU plan to bulk, medical equipment - including potentially life-saving ventilators, protective equipment and Test kits That could be used to coping with the coronavirus.

In The Time , Downing Street said the UK was his own preparations, because it was not in the EU, although the Minister denied claims That anti-EU sentiment also played a role in the decision.

Downing Street later issued a statement That Britain had been invited to take part in it, but the officials did not see the E-Mail because of a "communication confusion".

Asked on Tuesday why the decision was made, not in the scheme, Sir Simon Mcdonald who is the Secretary of state at the Federal foreign Office is, language in The Committee for Foreign Affairs , That it was a conscious movement by the Minister.

"We leave the European Union on the 31. January," He Said .

Pushed further, he added: "All I can say is That it is a fact That we took part. It was a political decision. and the decision is no. "

But five hours later, Sir Simon, his comment to Mr Hancock retracted controversial the proposal, the decision not to participate was a political.

"Due to a misunderstanding, I said inadvertently and unfairly, The Committee of Ministers on the joint EU-Beschaffungs-informed by the Schema and took a political decision not to participate," he wrote.

"This is wrong. The Ministers were not informed of our mission in Brussels about the program and a political decision was, whether to participate or not. "

He added That "the facts of The Situation , as already explained," and Britain missed the Chance to take part "on the basis of a first communication problem".

However, sources present during the Cobra meeting, said The Bbc , there were discussions about whether the work with the EU at the beginning of the pandemic. Sources close to health Minister Matt Hancock strongly disputes, there was a discussion about the specific EU-regulations.

the UK has become the latest EU procurement round, which include The First therapeutic treatment

The European Commission said That Britain would miss The First orders of fans and protective equipment have been placed, but yet to be delivered.

This is not an episode of " Yes Minister, where the carefully crafted communications of top officials and the Minister as fodder for jokes.

But there is now a rather mysterious situation, in Whitehall about some of the decisions made or not made, at the beginning of this crisis, what has to be one of the most difficult questions.

On Tuesday, Downing Street coronavirus briefing, Mr. Hancock revealed That he had to accede to the invitation of the EU, the scheme on a "Partner" basis. But he added That it is delivered, a single item of medical equipment.

The decision not to earlier had "zero" impact on the British power, he suggested.

Also in The Briefing , the health Minister announced That .

Mr Steiner said That the government had "everything" on the development of a vaccine for The Virus .

He Said the two leading vaccine-developments in UK universities, Imperial College London and the University of Oxford would receive a total of £42. 5m to support your clinical studies.

"these Two promising projects are making rapid progress, and I have said That the lead scientist of the you we will do everything in our power to help. "

Mr Hancock also spoke said the lack of protective equipment for the NHS, That the government speak with thousands of suppliers, but not all of them could deliver.

It came, as A Number of British companies, said The Bbc , to help your deals That had gone ignored.

An RAF plane was sent to fetch the Turkey, a shipment of PSA is now back in the UK, although it is Not Yet known what supplies are on the run.

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom recorded an other 823 coronavirus hospital deaths - the total number 17,337.

Official figures also showed in the week to 10 April - almost double what would have been expected - powered by the 6,200 deaths attributed to coronavirus.

In other developments:

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Source of news: bbc.com