Court proceedings launched in challenge to government's failure to publish Covid-19 contracts

12 Oct Court proceedings launched in challenge to government’s failure to publish Covid-19 contracts

Posted at 09:00h in Adam Hundt, Healthcare, Judicial review & public law, Procurement, Ugo Hayter by DPG Editing LH

Court proceedings have now been issued by our clients The Good Law Project and 3 cross-party MPs – Debbie Abrahams, Caroline Lucas and Layla Moran – challenging the government’s routine failure to publish details of contracts awarded in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic response.

The Claimants challenge the widespread systemic failure of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to comply with his duty under regulation 50 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to publish, within 30 days, contract award notices. The government’s policy is to publish the contracts themselves as well, if they have a value of over £10,000. The government is routinely failing to do both.

Further details can be found here. Coverage of the case can be found in the Sunday Times, the Guardian and the Mirror. If you are in a position to support the legal challenge, you can do so here.

The Good Law Project has instructed Adam Hundt and Ugo Hayter of Deighton Pierce Glynn, and Jason Coppel QC and Chris Knight of 11KBW Chambers.