The public response £192 million has already been spent on the UK Covid inquiry. Projections estimate costs will top £200m by the time the inquiry concludes. The investigation began in 2022. Its purpose is to examine the federal government’s response to the pandemic and identify lessons learned to prepare for any future emergencies. The inquiry, led by Baroness Hallett, is projected to deliver its final report by 2027.
The financial cost of the investigation is ultimately passed through to the taxpayer. More than half of the £192 million spent has been used on legal fees. Much of this spending is devoted to hiring outside attorneys. They assist with the legal challenges implementation that come up during the investigatory weapon usage. Even more than that, the inquiry has enlisted a staff of 248 experts operating in vital fields to accumulate and clarify information, forming it into compelling evidence.
Public expenditure on the inquiry includes legal counsel as well as staffing costs required to support the large-scale, multi-faceted investigation. There are ten individual investigations, or modules, that make up the larger inquiry.
Despite initial estimates, costs have escalated by more than 50%, raising concerns among taxpayers regarding the financial implications of this extensive inquiry. John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance think tank, expressed his dismay at the rising costs, labeling the additional £100 million spent by ministers as “an absolute disgrace.” We need to take a deep breath and realize that these new numbers are showing us a much greater cost to taxpayers than we initially thought.
“It’s an absolute disgrace that ministers have burnt through an extra £100m on top of what the inquiry itself has already spent.” – John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance
There has been other criticism as well, particularly on delays from government departments in delivering key documents. The inquiry’s legal team has found that several government departments are preventing access to critical data. This obstruction seems purposefully designed to prevent a full and fair investigation. Now a major legal standoff with the federal government has arisen. In 2023 it got all the way to the High Court over its refusal to make public former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks.
Five major departments are responsible for the bulk of the costs of the inquiry. These departments are the Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, HM Treasury and UK Health Security Agency. Their work has been absolutely critical in injecting evidence, expertise, and nonpartisan insights into discussions about the federal government’s response to the pandemic.
In response to mounting criticism and spiraling costs, a spokesperson from the Cabinet Office reassured that “the government is fully committed to supporting the work of the inquiry and to learning lessons from the pandemic to ensure the UK is better prepared for a future pandemic.”
O’Connell called on ministers to act now on the increasing costs and fast-track provision of solutions. He similarly called for a more efficient approach to fulfilling the need for accountability and transparency at each stage of the inquiry process.
“Ministers must urgently get a grip on the spiraling costs of the Covid Inquiry and commit to delivering answers swiftly and efficiently.” – John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance
As discussions continue regarding the inquiry’s costs and its implications for taxpayers, experts emphasize the need for clarity and efficiency in addressing issues arising from the pandemic response. With a substantial amount already spent and further costs anticipated, scrutiny over government expenditure will likely intensify as the inquiry progresses.