THE Covid Inquiry will value taxpayers £208million — essentially the most for any probe in UK historical past.
Evaluation reveals the listening to, which sits till 2026 and employs a whole lot of civil servants, prices £150,000 a day.
The invoice — £124million by September — will high £200million if the speed continues, it’s reckoned.
Chair Baroness Hallett has been paid greater than £500,000 and £37.7million will go on authorized payments, says the TaxPayers’ Alliance.
Chief John O’Connell stated bills had been rising because the inquiry “drags on . . . with no indicators of fiscal restraint”.
He stated: “The price of the Covid inquiry has spiralled even additional uncontrolled, with taxpayers left footing an ever-growing invoice.
“Because the inquiry drags on, it’s clear that the bills are solely climbing, with no indicators of fiscal restraint in sight.
“The brand new authorities ought to impose a transparent deadline and strict controls on expenditure to make sure taxpayers get the swift and decisive reply they deserve.”
An inquiry spokesman claimed the “flawed” evaluation was based mostly on hypothetical future expenditure and an imaginary finish date.
Ex-Well being Secretary Matt Hancock will at present seem on the inquiry — which has been blasted for specializing in authorities dysfunction relatively than lockdown prices and advantages.
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