Breaking: Government ordered to reveal the names of companies in the PPE VIP lane

Good Law Project has successfully forced the Government to reveal the names of the 47 companies in the PPE VIP lane. 

The Information Commissioner has ordered the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to disclose the names of these 47 companies to us within 35 calendar days.

The Information Commissioner wrote in her decision earlier today:

“The DHSC has not disclosed the requested information, nor advised the Commissioner that it considers it is otherwise exempt by virtue of another exemption. The DHSC has therefore failed to comply with its obligations under FOIA.”

She also warned that “failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the Act and may be dealt with as a contempt of court”.

The Immensa scandal – in which the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found at least 43,000 people may have wrongly been given a negative Covid test result – is a powerful further reminder of the harm that can result to public health from opaque contracting arrangements with unsuitable counterparties. 

As soon as the company names are shared with us, we will publish them.

Good Law Project will continue working to expose the staggering waste – and sleaze – of the £12.5bn PPE VIP bonanza.

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