certainly i was . aware that the dhsc was under fire from loads— aware that the dhsc was under fire fromented, sometimes super—confident, sometimes egotistical, people who were questioned with anxiety about what was happening to their country, who are racked _ was happening to their country, who are racked secretly with self—doubt and self—criticism and to externalise that by criticising others — externalise that by criticising others. it is human nature. when you are the _ others. it is human nature. when you are the leader in those circumstances, yourjob is to work out what — circumstances, yourjob is to work out what is — circumstances, yourjob is to work out what isjustified circumstances, yourjob is to work out what is justified and what is people — out what is justified and what is people sounding off, and what is political — people sounding off, and what is political nonsense. myjudgment was that matt _ political nonsense. myjudgment was that matt was, on the whole, doing a -ood that matt was, on the whole, doing a good job— that matt was, on the whole, doing a good job in— that m

and mr afternoon, the dhsc. and mr hancock .erable amount of evidence has been given to the inquiry that the lead government department model may not have been appropriate for a whole system crisis like covid. you understand what the lead government department model is and it will plainly function well at the beginning. it may function less well when the whole of government is engaged and perhaps too much pressure is placed on the lead. it can't accommodate the weight of the whole system response . there is whole system response. there is considerable material in sir patrick vallance diaries and in the witness statement of mr cummings to the effect that there was a high degree of chaos in the dhsc , that there was in the dhsc, that there was operating inefficiency. sir patrick vallance talks about this all the way through to may 2021. were you aware that competent, very senior advisers in your administration held the view that the dhsc had been overwhelmed and was operating inefficient ? inefficient? >> i was certainly aware tha

the government, dhsc knew that i was involved. the nhs, all of them, knew i was involved.pany protected was fully compliant with contract specifications. he talks about talking with a department of health and social care negotiator about the idea of settling the civil legal case, and he believes it was implied in his settlement was generous enough, the department for help were willing to make the national crime agency investigation go away. a department of health and social care spokesperson told the bbc they wouldn't comment on ongoing legal cases but stressed their staff adhere to all laws and regulations, and the national crime agency has said they are operationally independent and their investigations or intelligence led. we've heard this morning from a uk government cabinet minister, michael gove, he was in the cabinet in the pandemic and he stressed there was a rigorous process to check every company that wanted to supply ppe during the pandemic. wanted to supply ppe during the andemic. ., ~ wanted to supply ppe during the andemic. ., ,, , ., here in the uk, the prim

middle of no numerous other meetings and talked about plan b until till that point, no one in the dhscent measures. today >> my impression is that at the critical moment, it was indeed, as you say , that that sage as you say, that that sage meeting when i think that a number of scientists, epidemiologists look at looked at the data and said we are we are i'm afraid we're off the pace here. and i think that was what happened in is evidence to this inquiry. >> mr hancock said that on that friday the 13th of march, he called you to tell you that there needed to an immediate there needed to be an immediate lockdown. recall that lockdown. do you recall that call not? i i'm afraid i call or not? i i'm afraid i don't with it's been a long time. in his witness statement, mr cummings says at page 49, dufing mr cummings says at page 49, during the course of the saturday, quote, the prime minister asked reasonable questions, including why aren't hancock whitty vallance telling me this ? do you recall that me this? do you recall that discussion ? discussion? >> i remember them being there, but i mi