Government racks up 100m bill responding to Covid inquiry

"The public inquiry into the Covid pandemic has cost the government more than 100m to respond to so far, the BBC has learnt. This is on top of the 192m spent by the inquiry itself - meaning the cost to the taxpayer is over 50% more than previously thought. The government spending covers legal advice and staffing costs at last count a team of 248 were working across key departments to produce evidence for the inquiry."

"Inquiry sources questioned the approach, saying the government has at times been "hostile and difficult", blocking the release of information and delivering documents late. But the Cabinet Office said it was committed to the inquiry and learning the lessons for the future. However, the TaxPayers' Alliance has branded it a waste of money and the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said while the work being done was vital, public inquiries generally needed to become more efficient and less adversarial."

"It has already cost 192m a figure which is expected to rise past 200m by the time it is finished, making it one of the most expensive public inquiries in history. In total there are 10 separate investigations or modules as they are called. So far only two, looking at pandemic preparedness and government decision-making, have been completed."

Government response to the Covid inquiry has cost over 100m so far, on top of the inquiry's 192m. Government spending covers legal advice and staffing; a team of 248 worked across key departments to produce evidence. Inquiry sources said the government was at times hostile and difficult, blocking information release and delivering documents late. The Cabinet Office said it was committed to learning lessons. The TaxPayers' Alliance branded the work wasteful, while bereaved families urged more efficient, less adversarial public inquiries. The inquiry began in 2022, has ten modules with two completed, and the final report is expected in 2027. Analysis found departments spent around 101m from April 2023 to June 2025.

Read at www.bbc.com