Government spends £100 million on responding to Covid inquiry

The public investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic has already cost the UK government more than 100 million in responding, according to BBC sources. Combined with the 192 million spent directly by the inquiry, the total financial burden on taxpayers is now over 50% higher than previously estimated.

The governments expenses cover legal counsel and staff salaries. At the latest count, 248 officials were deployed across major departments to prepare evidence for the inquiry. Some sources involved in the inquiry have raised concerns over the governments approach, describing it at times as hostile and difficult, with delays in providing documents and withholding information. Nevertheless, the Cabinet Office maintains its commitment to supporting the inquiry and learning lessons for future crises.

Critics have voiced strong opinions on the expenditure. The TaxPayers' Alliance called the spending wasteful, while Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK acknowledged the importance of the inquiry but stressed the need for public investigations to become more efficient and less confrontational.

The Covid Inquiry, launched in 2022 and expected to conclude in 2027, has already become one of the most expensive public inquiries in UK history, with costs projected to surpass 200 million. It is structured around 10 separate modules, two of whichfocused on pandemic preparedness and government decision-makinghave been completed.

Analysis of Cabinet Office documents shows that government departments spent approximately 101 million from April 2023 to June 2025. Most of this sum was concentrated within five key departments: the Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, Treasury, and the UK Health Security Agency, which were repeatedly asked to submit evidence.

Legal fees accounted for more than half of the 101 million, including payments to external lawyers. An inquiry source suggested that the governments cautious and defensive stance contributed to the high costs. Inquiry chair Baroness Hallett and the inquirys legal team have criticized delays in document provision and resistance to releasing essential information. A notable dispute arose in 2023 when the inquiry and the government ended up in the High Court over the release of Boris Johnsons WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooksa case the government lost.

According to sources, the government established a large operation that sometimes appeared hostile and difficult to the inquiry. A Cabinet Office spokeswoman stated: 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. She added that the court case aimed to clarify a principle regarding the right of an inquiry to request information deemed irrelevant by providers.

John OConnell, CEO of the TaxPayers Alliance, criticized the government: It is an outrage that ministers have spent an extra 100 million on top of the inquirys costs. These figures show that the taxpayer burden will be much higher than previously thought. Ministers must act urgently to control the escalating costs and ensure answers are delivered quickly and efficiently.

A spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK described the inquirys work as vital, emphasizing that the lessons learned could save lives and reduce economic impact in future pandemics. However, they acknowledged the process is far from perfect and stressed the need for inquiries to be more efficient and less adversarial. They expressed support for the Hillsborough Law, which strengthens the legal obligation of public authorities to assist inquiries.

The Covid Inquiry team stated: This inquiry is unlike any previous public investigation. Its broad scope reflects the pandemics wide-reaching effects. While it is time-consuming and costly, it aims to produce recommendations to better protect the UK in future health crises.

Author: Sophia Brooks