so the testing rules, who got the tests, what the policy was and what order of priority we use tests in was based on clinical advice throughout. ml was based on clinical advice throughout.— was based on clinical advice throughout. all right, that is understood _ throughout. all right, that is understood and _ throughout. all right, that is understood and nobody - throughout. all right, that is understood and nobody is i throughout. all right, that is - understood and nobody is suggesting otherwise~ _ understood and nobody is suggesting otherwise~ the — understood and nobody is suggesting otherwise. the point _ understood and nobody is suggesting otherwise. the point i _ understood and nobody is suggesting otherwise. the point i am _ understood and nobody is suggesting otherwise. the point i am making - understood and nobody is suggesting otherwise. the point i am making is. otherwise. the point i am making is a different_ otherwise. the point i am making is a different one, _ otherwise. the point i am making is a different one, which _ otherwise. the point i am making is a different one, which is _ otherwise. the point i am making is a different one, which is the - otherwise. the point i am making is a different one, which is the dhsc, i a different one, which is the dhsc, your clinical — a different one, which is the dhsc, your clinical advisers, _ a different one, which is the dhsc, your clinical advisers, whether- a different one, which is the dhsc, your clinical advisers, whether it i your clinical advisers, whether it was who— your clinical advisers, whether it was who promulgated _ your clinical advisers, whether it was who promulgated the - your clinical advisers, whether it. was who promulgated the policies, could _ was who promulgated the policies, could not— was who promulgated the policies, could not in— was who promulgated the policies, could not in and _ was who promulgated the policies, could not in and day— was who promulgated the policies, could not in and day out _ was who promulgated the policies, could not in and day out practicallyi could not in and day out practically at residential— could not in and day out practically at residential care _ could not in and day out practically at residential care sector— could not in and day out practically at residential care sector level - at residential care sector level guarantee _ at residential care sector level guarantee everybody - at residential care sector level guarantee everybody a - at residential care sector level guarantee everybody a test. at residential care sector level guarantee everybody a test or| guarantee everybody a test or practically— guarantee everybody a test or practically make _ guarantee everybody a test or practically make them - guarantee everybody a test or. practically make them available. this was— practically make them available. this was an _ practically make them available. this was an extremely _ practically make them available. this was an extremely complex, i this was an extremely complex, difficult — this was an extremely complex, difficult system _ this was an extremely complex, difficult system and _ this was an extremely complex, difficult system and you - this was an extremely complex, difficult system and you could i this was an extremely complex, i difficult system and you could not ensure _ difficult system and you could not ensure or — difficult system and you could not ensure or guarantee _ difficult system and you could not ensure or guarantee that - difficult system and you could not ensure or guarantee that there i difficult system and you could not. ensure or guarantee that there would be tesis— ensure or guarantee that there would be tests available _ ensure or guarantee that there would be tests available for— ensure or guarantee that there would be tests available for everyone - ensure or guarantee that there would be tests available for everyone in - be tests available for everyone in accordance — be tests available for everyone in accordance with _ be tests available for everyone in accordance with the _ be tests available for everyone in accordance with the policy. - be tests available for everyone in accordance with the policy. [5 - be tests available for everyone in accordance with the policy. is it i accordance with the policy. is it possible? _ accordance with the policy. is it possible? yes. _ accordance with the policy. possible? yes. however, what accordance with the policy.- possible? yes. however, what i am saying is when we were devising the policy, we tried to take that into account as much as possible, but you cannot take it into account entirely. fif cannot take it into account entirely-— cannot take it into account entirel . , entirely. of course, ifi may say so, that entirely. of course, ifi may say so. that is— entirely. of course, ifi may say so, that is an _ entirely. of course, ifi may say so, that is an obvious _ entirely. of course, ifi may say so, that is an obvious point. - entirely. of course, ifi may say so, that is an obvious point. in| entirely. of course, if i may say i so, that is an obvious point. in the whatsauu — so, that is an obvious point. in the whatsapp group _ so, that is an obvious point. in the whatsapp group to _ so, that is an obvious point. in the whatsapp group to which - so, that is an obvious point. in the whatsapp group to which you - so, that is an obvious point. in the whatsapp group to which you are. so, that is an obvious point. in the| whatsapp group to which you are a contributor, — whatsapp group to which you are a contributor, the _ whatsapp group to which you are a contributor, the group _ whatsapp group to which you are a contributor, the group i _ whatsapp group to which you are a contributor, the group i have - contributor, the group i have mentioned _ contributor, the group i have mentioned earlier, _ contributor, the group i have mentioned earlier, you - contributor, the group i have mentioned earlier, you will. contributor, the group i have - mentioned earlier, you will recall, mr hancock, — mentioned earlier, you will recall, mr hancock, that _ mentioned earlier, you will recall, mr hancock, that in _ mentioned earlier, you will recall, mr hancock, that in may, - mentioned earlier, you will recall, mr hancock, that in may, mr- mentioned earlier, you will recall, - mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i— mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says. idon't— mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand _ mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand why— mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand why we - mr hancock, that in may, mr cummings says, i don't understand why we are - says, i don't understand why we are still not _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing more _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing more care _ says, i don't understand why we are still not testing more care home - still not testing more care home staff, _ still not testing more care home staff, including _ still not testing more care home staff, including asymptomatic. i still not testing more care home i staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick— staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick vallance _ staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick vallance says, _ staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick vallance says, if— staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick vallance says, if we - staff, including asymptomatic. sir patrick vallance says, if we don'tl patrick vallance says, if we don't -et patrick vallance says, if we don't get on _ patrick vallance says, if we don't get on top — patrick vallance says, if we don't get on top of— patrick vallance says, if we don't get on top of the _ patrick vallance says, if we don't get on top of the spread, - patrick vallance says, if we don't get on top of the spread, we - patrick vallance says, if we don't get on top of the spread, we risk the rest — get on top of the spread, we risk the rest and _ get on top of the spread, we risk the rest. and you _ get on top of the spread, we risk the rest. and you say, _ get on top of the spread, we risk the rest. and you say, we - get on top of the spread, we risk the rest. and you say, we have l get on top of the spread, we risk- the rest. and you say, we have been doing _ the rest. and you say, we have been doing this _ the rest. and you say, we have been doing this for — the rest. and you say, we have been doing this for the _ the rest. and you say, we have been doing this for the past _ the rest. and you say, we have been doing this for the past week, - the rest. and you say, we have been doing this for the past week, and - doing this for the past week, and that is— doing this for the past week, and that is dated _ doing this for the past week, and that is dated the _ doing this for the past week, and that is dated the 3rd _ doing this for the past week, and that is dated the 3rd of— doing this for the past week, and that is dated the 3rd of may- doing this for the past week, and that is dated the 3rd of may andl that is dated the 3rd of may and that is dated the 3rd of may and that must— that is dated the 3rd of may and that must be _ that is dated the 3rd of may and that must be a _ that is dated the 3rd of may and that must be a reference - that is dated the 3rd of may and that must be a reference back. that is dated the 3rd of may andl that must be a reference back to probably— that must be a reference back to probably the _ that must be a reference back to probably the 28th _ that must be a reference back to probably the 28th of _ that must be a reference back to probably the 28th of april- that must be a reference back to| probably the 28th of april policy. 0r probably the 28th of april policy. or perhaps — probably the 28th of april policy. or perhaps one _ probably the 28th of april policy. or perhaps one of— probably the 28th of april policy. or perhaps one of the _ probably the 28th of april policy. or perhaps one of the earlier- or perhaps one of the earlier policies _ or perhaps one of the earlier policies mr— or perhaps one of the earlier policies. mr cummings, - or perhaps one of the earlier policies. mr cummings, as. or perhaps one of the earlier. policies. mr cummings, as you or perhaps one of the earlier- policies. mr cummings, as you know, sends— policies. mr cummings, as you know, sends around — policies. mr cummings, as you know, sends around a— policies. mr cummings, as you know, sends around a message _ policies. mr cummings, as you know, sends around a message saying, - policies. mr cummings, as you know, sends around a message saying, we i sends around a message saying, we are negligently— sends around a message saying, we are negligently killing _ sends around a message saying, we are negligently killing the _ sends around a message saying, we are negligently killing the most - are negligently killing the most vulnerable _ are negligently killing the most vulnerable and _ are negligently killing the most vulnerable and i— are negligently killing the most vulnerable and i am _ are negligently killing the most vulnerable and i am extremelyl vulnerable and i am extremely worried — vulnerable and i am extremely worried trying _ vulnerable and i am extremely worried. trying to _ vulnerable and i am extremely worried. trying to be - vulnerable and i am extremely worried. trying to be as - vulnerable and i am extremelyl worried. trying to be as neutral vulnerable and i am extremely- worried. trying to be as neutral as you can _ worried. trying to be as neutral as you can in — worried. trying to be as neutral as you can in terms— worried. trying to be as neutral as you can in terms of— worried. trying to be as neutral as you can in terms of your— worried. trying to be as neutral as you can in terms of your dealings. you can in terms of your dealings with mr_ you can in terms of your dealings with mr cummings, _ you can in terms of your dealings with mr cummings, was- you can in terms of your dealings with mr cummings, was this - you can in terms of your dealings - with mr cummings, was this explosive in the _ with mr cummings, was this explosive in the can— with mr cummings, was this explosive in the can indications _ with mr cummings, was this explosive in the can indications are _ with mr cummings, was this explosive in the can indications are very- in the can indications are very explosive. _ in the can indications are very explosive, this _ in the can indications are very explosive, this explosive - in the can indications are very explosive, this explosive row| in the can indications are very. explosive, this explosive row as in the can indications are very- explosive, this explosive row as to what _ explosive, this explosive row as to what was — explosive, this explosive row as to what was being _ explosive, this explosive row as to what was being done _ explosive, this explosive row as to what was being done a _ explosive, this explosive row as to what was being done a reflection. explosive, this explosive row as toi what was being done a reflection of that difficulty — what was being done a reflection of that difficulty that _ what was being done a reflection of that difficulty that policy _ what was being done a reflection of that difficulty that policy may - what was being done a reflection of that difficulty that policy may not . that difficulty that policy may not reflect _ that difficulty that policy may not reflect the — that difficulty that policy may not reflect the reality _ that difficulty that policy may not reflect the reality of _ that difficulty that policy may not reflect the reality of what - that difficulty that policy may not reflect the reality of what tests . reflect the reality of what tests were _ reflect the reality of what tests were actually— reflect the reality of what tests were actually in _ reflect the reality of what tests were actually in place - reflect the reality of what tests were actually in place up - reflect the reality of what tests were actually in place up and l reflect the reality of what tests - were actually in place up and down the land _ were actually in place up and down the land in — were actually in place up and down the land in the _ were actually in place up and down the land in the care _ were actually in place up and down the land in the care sector. -- - were actually in place up and down the land in the care sector.- the land in the care sector. -- and the land in the care sector. -- and the indication _ the land in the care sector. -- and the indication is. _ the land in the care sector. -- and the indication is. it _ the land in the care sector. -- and the indication is. it was _ the land in the care sector. -- and the indication is. it was a - the indication is. it was a reflection in my opinion of two things. the first is that you can find examples on the ground where the policy set in whitehall doesn't match entirely. but it is also a reflection of the fact that unfortunately, the prime minister's chief adviser didn't always try to ascertain the facts before making comments. he did this over the testing target towards the end of march which we hit, when he provided misinformation to the prime minister. mr misinformation to the prime minister. ~ ., ., minister. mr hancock, i have given ou minister. mr hancock, i have given you ample — minister. mr hancock, i have given you ample opportunity _ minister. mr hancock, i have given you ample opportunity to - minister. mr hancock, i have given| you ample opportunity to comment minister. mr hancock, i have given . you ample opportunity to comment on the allegations — you ample opportunity to comment on the allegations that _ you ample opportunity to comment on the allegations that mr _ you ample opportunity to comment on the allegations that mr cummings - you ample opportunity to comment on the allegations that mr cummings has| the allegations that mr cummings has made about— the allegations that mr cummings has made about you _ the allegations that mr cummings has made about you. the _ the allegations that mr cummings has made about you-— made about you. the point is, they are false so — made about you. the point is, they are false so you — made about you. the point is, they are false so you cannot _ made about you. the point is, they are false so you cannot actually - are false so you cannot actually take anything he wrote in that it is true because in that case, it didn't accord with the facts. and ijust gave another example. and therefore, it is quite difficult to answer in a substantive way about the planning of future pandemics when the comments that i was receiving were not based on the truth. shall comments that i was receiving were not based on the truth.— not based on the truth. all right. a rotective not based on the truth. all right. a protective ring- — not based on the truth. all right. a protective ring. on _ not based on the truth. all right. a protective ring. on the _ not based on the truth. all right. a protective ring. on the 15th - not based on the truth. all right. a protective ring. on the 15th of- not based on the truth. all right. a| protective ring. on the 15th of may, protective ring. 0n the 15th of may, you said _ protective ring. 0n the 15th of may, you said at — protective ring. 0n the 15th of may, you said at a — protective ring. 0n the 15th of may, you said at a downing _ protective ring. 0n the 15th of may, you said at a downing street - protective ring. 0n the 15th of may, you said at a downing street pressl you said at a downing street press conference. — you said at a downing street press conference, right _ you said at a downing street press conference, right from _ you said at a downing street press conference, right from the - you said at a downing street press conference, right from the start, l you said at a downing street press| conference, right from the start, it has been _ conference, right from the start, it has been clear— conference, right from the start, it has been clear that _ conference, right from the start, it has been clear that this _ conference, right from the start, it has been clear that this horrible i has been clear that this horrible virus _ has been clear that this horrible virus affects _ has been clear that this horrible virus affects older— has been clear that this horrible virus affects older people - has been clear that this horrible virus affects older people most. has been clear that this horrible i virus affects older people most. so i’i l ht virus affects older people most. so right from — virus affects older people most. so right from the _ virus affects older people most. so right from the start, _ virus affects older people most. so right from the start, we _ virus affects older people most. so right from the start, we have - virus affects older people most. so right from the start, we have triedl right from the start, we have tried to throw— right from the start, we have tried to throw a — right from the start, we have tried to throw a protective _ right from the start, we have tried to throw a protective ring - right from the start, we have tried to throw a protective ring around i to throw a protective ring around our care — to throw a protective ring around our care homes _ to throw a protective ring around our care homes. and _ to throw a protective ring around our care homes. and you - to throw a protective ring around our care homes. and you say, i to throw a protective ring aroundl our care homes. and you say, we to throw a protective ring around - our care homes. and you say, we have tried _ our care homes. and you say, we have tried you _ our care homes. and you say, we have