The Covid inquiry has already awarded more than £145 million in private contracts – even though the inquiry still has years to go.
Taxpayer-funded packages have been distributed to law firms and lawyers charged with investigating key witnesses, as well as data processing companies.
Critics have questioned the huge costs to the public purse and are demanding it provide answers as soon as possible.
The full inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallett, is not expected to be completed until 2026.
Official figures show the cost is around £56 million.
Taxpayer-funded packages have been distributed to law firms and lawyers charged with investigating key witnesses, as well as data processing companies. Critics have questioned the huge costs to the public purse and are demanding it provide answers as soon as possible. The full inquiry, chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett (pictured), is not expected to be completed until 2026
Boris Johnson (pictured center), Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock have all been scrutinized in sensational conversations that illustrated the infighting at the heart of the government. Scientific insights have also been shared by the likes of Chris Whitty (pictured left), Jonathan Van-Tam and Patrick Vallance (pictured right)
But analysis of government data by LBC and software company Tussell shows the total value of contracts is £145 million.
This includes more than £25 million awarded to data processing company Epiq Systems, while the Cabinet Office is expected to spend £13.9 million on law firm Burges Salmon.
The TaxPayers' Alliance also estimates that the Covid inquiry will have a total cost of more than £156 million from its formal inception.
Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Matt Hancock have all been scrutinized in sensational conversations that illustrated the infighting at the heart of the government.
Scientific insights have also been shared by Chris Whitty, Jonathan Van-Tam and Patrick Vallance, among others.
Excerpts from his diary were given to the inquiry as part of the second module, which launched in October and examined government decision-making during the darkest days of the crisis.
In it he wrote that then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak was “all about dealing with the scientists” rather than controlling the virus outbreak at a meeting.
Another read: 'Number 10 chaos as usual.
'On Friday the two meter rule meeting made it abundantly clear that no one in Number 10 or the Cabinet had actually read the scientific advice on two meters or taken the time to understand it. Very special.'
Yet it is reported that Sir Patrick's full diary will not be published, despite pleas for transparency.
Eight media organizations have jointly argued that the notes – edited to remove personal and irrelevant information – should be shown in context as part of a full diary page.
However, Sir Patrick's legal team have argued that this would breach his right to privacy and that he never intended the notes to be made public.
Excerpts from his diary were given to the inquiry as part of the second module, which launched in October and examined government decision-making during the darkest days of the crisis. In it he wrote that then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak was “all about dealing with the scientists” rather than controlling the virus outbreak at a meeting. Another read: 'Number 10 chaos as usual. 'On Friday the two meter rule meeting made it abundantly clear that no one in Number 10 or the Cabinet had actually read the scientific advice on two meters or taken the time to understand it. Very special'
Neil Sheldon KC, representative of the Government Office for Science, also told the inquiry in his closing address today: 'Sir Patrick explained in both his written and oral evidence how these notes came about, and how they were never intended to be them would be read. someone else, for whatever purpose.
“It is said that he provided them to the inquiry voluntarily and to the extent that it was not necessary for you, my lady, to exercise your coercive power to enforce the request.
“But that does not mean, as you know, that he provided them with enthusiasm.”
Inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett also suggested yesterday that only individual extracts from the transcribed note would be published.
Addressing the inquiry today, Mr Sheldon also said that “recollections may vary” about events that took place in the early stages of the pandemic.
It's the same phrase the late Queen Elizabeth used in a brief 61-word statement days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex accused the palace of racism in 2021.
He added: 'In general terms and as reflected in his statement, Sir Patrick believes that those with the heavy responsibility for core decision-making during the pandemic have ensured that they have listened to and accepted the scientific advice of SAGE (the scientific advisory body of the government). group).
'Everyone was operating, especially in the first months, in the fog of war and under acute time pressure, and inevitably memories on some matters differ and misunderstandings may have arisen.'