BLACKBURN MP Kate Hollern has called on the government to improve the supply of Personal Protective Equipment for council staff.

The Labour backbencher said local authorities were crying out for the vital safety kits needed during the coronavirus outbreak.

Mrs Hollern told local government secretary Robert Jenrick in the House of Commons: "The new online portal for councils to order PPE has still not gone live.

"Despite being promised that it would be open three weeks ago, we are now told it is likely to be another three weeks.

"The first duty of any employer is to keep their staff safe while working.

"Councils are desperately trying to buy, and are asking for donations of, PPE because their stocks are dangerously low.

"Can you tell me when the portal will be open, and will he give councils a cast-iron guarantee that they will be given all the PPE they need to keep them safe?"

Mr Jenrick replied: "It is absolutely right that everybody working on the frontline of this crisis has the protective equipment that they deserve. Of course, those working in local government, and particularly those working in care homes, deserve the best possible care.

"We have been working to ensure that PPE reaches them through our local resilience forums, which my department is responsible for.

"That has delivered over 50 million items of PPE in the past three weeks, the vast majority of which—36 million items—have gone to care homes.

"Of course there is more that we need to do. "