EXCL: DHSC to pay up to £35m to dispose of unused pandemic PPE Exclusive
08 Apr 2022 Coronavirus
EXCL: DHSC to pay up to £35m to dispose of unused pandemic PPE
Waste companies to get £17.5m apiece after department admitted plans to burn mountains of equipment
Former ethics chief apologises for attending Cabinet Office lockdown party
04 Apr 2022 Coronavirus
Former ethics chief apologises for attending Cabinet Office lockdown party
Helen MacNamara says sorry for her "error of judgement" in attending leaving drinks
DHSC may not achieve value for money on 176 PPE contracts, NAO warns
04 Apr 2022 Coronavirus
DHSC may not achieve value for money on 176 PPE contracts, NAO warns
The watchdog finds the Department of Health and Social Care is still paying millions of pounds to store PPE that is not suitable for frontline use
Former government ethics chief 'fined' over Cabinet Office lockdown karaoke party
04 Apr 2022 Coronavirus
Former government ethics chief 'fined' over Cabinet Office lockdown karaoke party
Helen MacNamara was responsible for ensuring the highest standards within government at the time
Met Police issues first 20 Partygate fines
29 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Met Police issues first 20 Partygate fines
Boris Johnson among dozens sent interview questionnaires after Sue Gray probe into Covid rule-breaking
DHSC bought £122m PPE from Tory peer-linked firm 'for almost three times manufacturing fee'
28 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
DHSC bought £122m PPE from Tory peer-linked firm 'for almost three times manufacturing fee'
The 25 million gowns were never used after failing an inspection
MPs renew call for government to create chief risk officer role
25 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
MPs renew call for government to create chief risk officer role
Senior officials “lack understanding” of the benefits a CRO would bring, despite pandemic experience, Public Accounts Committee says
DHSC failed to adequately document Randox Covid testing contract decisions – NAO
25 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
DHSC failed to adequately document Randox Covid testing contract decisions – NAO
The watchdog says it has not seen any evidence that the contracts with Randox were “awarded improperly", however
DVLA pledges ‘urgent investigation' over absenteeism claims
21 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
DVLA pledges ‘urgent investigation' over absenteeism claims
Privacy concerns hamper remote working at the agency, as licence-processing backlogs continue
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
16 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
Barclays boss tells MPs that HMRC could have given more anti-fraud help
Sue Gray wrong choice to conduct Partygate probe, former standards adviser argues
15 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Sue Gray wrong choice to conduct Partygate probe, former standards adviser argues
Sir Phillip Mawer says independent adviser on ministerial standards should have powers to investigate civil servants
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
15 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
Ex-minister says entire board of British Business Bank should be sacked for Bounce Back Loan failings
Covid public inquiry hearings ‘will not begin until 2023 at the earliest’
11 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Covid public inquiry hearings ‘will not begin until 2023 at the earliest’
Revelation comes as inquiry chair puts draft terms of reference out to consultation
Seven billion items of pandemic PPE 'not fit for purpose' Exclusive
11 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Seven billion items of pandemic PPE 'not fit for purpose'
Nearly one in five units of PPE marked “do not supply” to the NHS by the Department of Health and Social Care
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
10 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
Department a “Dad’s Army operation” when it came to keeping criminals away from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, says Agnew
Government ‘turning blind eye’ to new parents’ needs amid Covid recovery
07 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Government ‘turning blind eye’ to new parents’ needs amid Covid recovery
Petitions Committee says “continued lack of action” leaves new parents’ needs “unrecognised and unmet”
Boris Johnson reproached for 'selective use of data' on unemployment
28 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson reproached for 'selective use of data' on unemployment
Statistics watchdog writes to PM for the second time this month after he claimed employment had risen
NAO lauds vaccine rollout but flags staff-fatigue concerns
25 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
NAO lauds vaccine rollout but flags staff-fatigue concerns
Public-spending watchdog says £8.3bn programme has been good value for money – and has come in under budget so far
DWP does not know what impact ‘chaotic’ Kickstart scheme is having due to lack of basic monitoring
25 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
DWP does not know what impact ‘chaotic’ Kickstart scheme is having due to lack of basic monitoring
Public Accounts Committee says scheme was set up “with good intentions but no proper way of measuring its success”
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
23 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
Criticism comes after a row between the Treasury and DHSC over ending Covid restrictions forced the PM to delay a meeting to sign off the plans
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
22 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
PM scraps Covid restrictions and announces end to free tests from April
Legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test for Covid-19 to end on 24 February under "Living with Covid" plan
EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market Exclusive
21 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
EXCL: Health security agency signs £1m deal with Deloitte to help get private Covid tests to market
Consultants brought in to assess paid-for LFT providers as Omicron and supply-chain delays led to shortage of free tests
Partygate: Ex-Covid Taskforce head still ‘on discretionary leave’ from new job
18 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Partygate: Ex-Covid Taskforce head still ‘on discretionary leave’ from new job
Sheffield City Council appoints acting chief executive as probe into former Cabinet Office official continues
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy Exclusive
17 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Specialist consultants called in to help with Covid public inquiry comms strategy
Agency to provide advice on media relations and a consultation on the public inquiry's terms of reference