The Week in Numbers (to Sep 28th)

The Real Big Black Hole

£5,049,000

On 2 September, Baroness Smith of Basildon, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords for Labour, stated the costs to the UK Government associated with responding to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry.

Inquiry Response Units lead the Government’s response to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry across departments. The Cost of the inquiry Response Unit staff in Quarter 1 was £5,049,000

280 

The number of UK COVID-19 Inquiry Response Unit staff: 280 Full-Time Equivalents in Quarter 1.

£4,236,000

The Government Legal Department supports Inquiry Response Units across government departments and co-partnering firms of solicitors and legal counsel. These associated legal costs (excluding internal departmental advisory legal fees) for April - June 2024 are £4,236,000.

In the last two weeks, TTE has written extensively about the NHS's costs and recommendations for saving billions. 

But now we find out that the government costs of responding to the inquiry are £37 million a year. How much? We hear you ask. 

T…