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A senior SNP Government figure has apologised for his role in the row over whether an English company was refusing to sell PPE to Scotland.

Professor Jason Leitch said he “overspoke” when he initially described the claims as “rubbish”.

He added there was “nuance” as Scotland and England had their own national stockpiles of protective equipment.

The website of Gompels HealthCare had said the gowns and masks it sells in the fight against Coronavirus could only be accessed by organisations in England.

Leitch, the national clinical director in the Scottish Government, dismissed the story on Tuesday morning.

He said: "We have looked into it and we think it's rubbish. So, the companies, and our colleagues at NHS England yesterday when we spoke to them, said it wasn't true.

(Image: Alasdair Baird <a.baird@dailyrecord.co.uk>)

However, Sturgeon appeared to take the story seriously and said hours later: “It is not an exaggeration to say that we are extremely concerned about these reports, and are taking steps to investigate them further, and to seek to resolve them if they are real issues, as a matter of urgency.”

Her comments triggered a political row and led to an unequivocal denial by Downing Street that any instruction had gone out to prioritise one part of the UK over another.

Sturgeon later said she accepted the assurances provided by the UK Government.

In an interview this morning, Leitch said: “I think I should first of all say sorry for my part in confusion on Tuesday morning. I over spoke a little and should have been more circumspect in my response to you."

He added: “In turns out that Public Health England and the Department of Health havn’t given instructions to companies not to provide PPE to Scottish providers.”

Put to him that the Gompels issue had been about supplies procured previously by Public Health England and which were for care homes in England, he replied: “That appears to be where the confusion arose.”

Meanwhile, Leitch also said Scotland could take a different approach to the rest of the UK on easing lockdown measures if it is in the country's best interests.

UK Government ministers are expected to announce today that the lockdown will be extended for another three weeks, amid signs the epidemic is beginning to peak.

Leitch said both he, the First Minister and others agree Scotland is not yet in a position for authorities to recommend the lockdown should be lifted.

He said once restrictions ease there may be differences across the UK as it is "important to do what applies in your context", though there are not likely to be "massive differences" in the approaches of each of the four nations.

A total of 699 coronavirus patients have died in Scotland, while 6,748 people have now tested positive for the virus, according to Health Protection Scotland figures.