Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Covid inquiry to look at whether some PPE contracts were ‘fraudulent’

Inquiry lawyer Richard Wald said: ‘Early indications suggest that a number of PPE contracts awarded were later disputed.’

David Hughes
Tuesday 06 February 2024 07:16 EST
Baroness Heather Hallett’s inquiry is looking at procurement in the fifth module of its work (Alamy/PA)
Baroness Heather Hallett’s inquiry is looking at procurement in the fifth module of its work (Alamy/PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has begun hearings into the way £15 billion of taxpayers’ money was spent on personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, amid claims of fraud and waste.

The inquiry will examine the controversial “high priority lane”, which was used to deal with suppliers who approached MPs, ministers and officials.

The hearings will examine how the balance was struck between the need to find PPE at a time of urgent need and the responsibility to provide value for money and transparency.

The inquiry is... investigating concerns that some contracts awarded may have been fraudulent, that prices were inflated, or that PPE was defective or unusable

Richard Wald KC

It will examine whether some contracts were fraudulent or had prices which were inflated.

Inquiry counsel Richard Wald KC said: “The emergence of Covid-19 in December 2019 presented this country with an unprecedented procurement challenge.

“Some figures illustrate the scale of this challenge: early indications are that the Department for Health and Social Care spent in the region of £15 billion on PPE procurement through the lifetime of the pandemic, during which over 30 billion items of PPE were purchased and over 25 billion items of PPE distributed to people dealing with it.”

Baroness Heather Hallett’s inquiry is looking at procurement in the fifth module of its work.

Opening the module’s preliminary hearing, Mr Wald said: “Early indications suggest that a number of PPE contracts awarded were later disputed.

“The inquiry is also investigating concerns that some contracts awarded may have been fraudulent, that prices were inflated, or that PPE was defective or unusable.”

Mr Wald confirmed the inquiry would also be “scrutinising the reasons for, and operation of, the high priority lane” as part of its work.

The National Audit Office concluded in 2020 that “standards of transparency and documentation” were not met as officials scrambled to secure supplies of PPE.

Meanwhile, accounts published by the inquiry showed that it had cost taxpayers more than £78.5 million in total by the end of 2023.

Almost £22.5 million was spent from October to December 2023 alone.

Lady Hallett has been paid £332,000 since her appointment in December 2021, and claimed £7,000 in expenses.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in