Ask Onix
Taxpayer bill for Covid inquiry exceeds £290m
The UK government has spent over £100 million responding to the Covid-19 public inquiry, pushing the total cost to taxpayers beyond £290 million, new figures reveal. This sum adds to the £192 million already allocated to the inquiry itself.
Government spending breakdown
A team of 248 staff across key departments has been assembled to compile evidence, with legal fees accounting for more than half of the £101 million spent between April 2023 and June 2025. The Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, Treasury, and UK Health Security Agency bore the brunt of these costs.
The figures exclude the time officials spend preparing for or giving testimony in person.
Tensions between inquiry and government
Sources close to the inquiry have described the government's approach as "hostile and difficult" at times, citing delays in document submission and resistance to releasing information. A high-profile dispute in 2023 saw the government taken to the High Court over its refusal to hand over Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages, diaries, and notebooks. The inquiry won the case.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson defended the government's stance, stating: "The government is fully committed to supporting the inquiry and learning lessons from the pandemic to ensure the UK is better prepared for the future." The spokesperson added that the legal challenge was pursued to clarify the inquiry's authority to request information deemed irrelevant by the provider.
Criticism and calls for reform
The TaxPayers' Alliance condemned the spending as excessive. Chief Executive John O'Connell said: "It's an absolute disgrace that ministers have burnt through an extra £100 million on top of what the inquiry itself has already spent. These new figures show the total cost to taxpayers will be far higher than previously feared."
He urged ministers to "urgently get a grip on the spiralling costs" and deliver answers "swiftly and efficiently."
Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK acknowledged the inquiry's importance but criticised its efficiency. A spokesperson said: "The work being done is vital, and any costs will be recouped many times over if lessons are learned to reduce the economic impact of the next pandemic and save lives."
However, the group argued that public inquiries must become "more efficient and less adversarial." They expressed support for the proposed Hillsborough Law, which would strengthen the legal duty of public authorities to cooperate with inquiries.
Inquiry scope and timeline
Launched in 2022, the Covid inquiry is one of the most expensive in UK history, with costs expected to exceed £200 million by its conclusion in 2027. It comprises 10 separate investigations, or "modules," covering areas such as pandemic preparedness and government decision-making. Only two modules have been completed so far.
An inquiry spokesperson said: "This inquiry is unprecedented in scope, examining multiple aspects of a pandemic that affected everyone in society. While it is costly and time-consuming, the chair has made clear from the outset that it would be. The inquiry is progressing faster than any comparable public inquiry, with all hearings set to conclude by spring 2026."
The final report, aimed at shaping future pandemic preparedness, is not expected until 2027.
