7. Question No. 7—COVID-19 ResponseCHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 7—COVID-19 Response7. CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: How many forward orders of rapid antigen tests have been consolidated into the Government's stock and how many tests that have landed in New Zealand have been consolidated into the Government's stock of rapid antigen tests?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): No forward orders of rapid antigen tests have been consolidated into the Government's stock nor have any rapid antigen tests already in New Zealand and intended for other parties been consolidated into the Government's stock. That's been confirmed by our three primary suppliers of rapid antigen tests themselves including Siemens who confirmed to the ministry on 26 January 2022 that they were not reallocating any stock from other orders in order to fulfil the ministry's order. Roche advised the ministry on or around 27 January that its orders had not been fulfilled at the expense of other industry orders. Finally Abbott confirmed on Friday 28 January that no yet-to-be-fulfilled orders by private sector entities were placed prior to those placed by the Ministry of Health.Chris Bishop: Why did Dr Ashley Bloomfield tell a press conference that forward orders of rapid antigen tests had been in his words consolidated into the Government's stock which is the primary question authentication?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: My understanding from the conversation that I have had with Dr Bloomfield was that he was referring to the consolidation of the Government's orders.Chris Bishop: Is he aware of multiple instances of private companies who do not have rapid antigen tests that they ordered after being told by their suppliers that the reason they can't have those orders fulfilled is because the Government has requisitioned stock meant for them?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'm aware of one example just this afternoon where there was an email from one of those companies that was sent to another company making that claim. That email was provided to a journalist who contacted that company directly and was told that that email had been sent in error and it was incorrect.Chris Bishop: Have all companies that ordered rapid antigen tests that were due for delivery by now received those rapid tests?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I have no ministerial responsibility for that whatsoever. What I would say is that there is a lot of demand for rapid antigen tests. The companies concerned have all stated that they are fulfilling the orders in the order in which they received them and the Government's orders—in the case of the three companies that I just mentioned—arrived first. The member can continue to attack the integrity of those businesses but I accept them at their word.Chris Bishop: When will rapid antigen tests be available for sale in pharmacies and supermarkets for people who are keen to get tested?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Our priority at the moment is to make sure that those who most need access to the tests can get them. The member himself has just indicated that many of the businesses who are seeking to order those tests haven't been able to get hold of them. It's therefore the Government's role in that situation to make sure that the tests that we have been able to secure are supplied to those who are most in need.