Michael Gove and Matt Hancock questioned in Michelle Mone PPE probe

Scottish businesswoman Michelle Mone was made a Conservative life peer in 2015

UK Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and former health secretary Matt Hancock have been interviewed as part of an investigation into a PPE company linked to Michelle Mone.

The Sunday Times first reported that both were interviewed as witnesses by the National Crime Agency. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on their part.

Representatives for Baroness Mone have been contacted for comment.

Both Mr Gove and Mr Hancock refused to comment on a live police investigation.

• Boss of Mone-linked firm was censured in tax probe

• Tory peer Mone to take leave of absence from Lords

In December 2020, lawyers for the Scottish businesswoman said she "had no role or function in PPE Medpro, nor in the process by which contracts were awarded to PPE Medpro".

But earlier this month the Guardian reported that a representative of Baroness Mone and her husband, Douglas Barrowman, acknowledged they were involved with the company.

PPE Medpro is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The NCA opened its inquiries in May 2021 into potential criminal offences in relation to the procurement of PPE (personal protective equipment) contracts.

Michael Gove and Matt Hancock have been spoken to by the National Crime Agency

PPE Medpro was awarded UK government deals worth more than £200m in the summer of 2020 to supply the NHS during the Covid pandemic.

In November 2021, the government revealed Baroness Mone had been the "source of referral" for the company getting a place on the so-called "VIP lane" for offers.

The VIP lane - also known and the high-priority lane - was introduced to help the UK government choose between huge numbers of supplier offers during the pandemic.

The idea was to treat offers of PPE with greater urgency if they came from a firm recommended by ministers, government officials or MPs and peers from any party.

As well as saying Baroness Mone had no role in PPE Medpro, the Tory peer's lawyers said her husband was "not a director or shareholder in PPE Medpro and had no role in the award of any contracts to PPE Medpro".

Representatives for the couple and the company have reportedly now acknowledged that Baroness Mone acted as "intermediary/liaison" between the company and government departments.

They have also said that Mr Barrowman was "the chairman and leader of the PPE Medpro consortium that supplied the UK government."

'Unjust enrichment'

The company is separately being sued by the UK government for £122m plus costs for "breach of contract and unjust enrichment".

PPE Medpro has said it would "rigorously" defend the claim. It has now filed a defence asserting that the gowns supplied were in accordance with the contract.

David Cameron made Baroness Mone a Conservative peer in 2015. She has been on a leave of absence from the House of Lords since late last year.

The entrepreneur, who founded lingerie firm Ultimo, is being investigated by the House of Lords commissioner for standards.

She has denied any wrongdoing and has said she wants to clear her name.

Mr Gove told the BBC that he could not comment on an ongoing police inquiry.

The levelling up secretary added that the use of the VIP lane would be considered by the UK Covid inquiry.