The Government's bill for responding to the official Covid-19 pandemic inquiry has now exceeded £100 million, according to newly released transparency data. The figures, covering legal advice and dedicated staffing, come on top of the inquiry's own running costs, setting it on course to become the most expensive public investigation in British history.
Breaking Down the Multi-Million Pound Bill
Documents from the Cabinet Office, analysed by the BBC and seen by the Press Association, provide a detailed financial breakdown. Between April 2023 and June 2025, the Government spent £56.4 million on legal costs. This sum includes £26.2 million in the year to March 2024, £25.0 million the following year, and a further £5.2 million in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.
Staffing costs for the same period amounted to £44.6 million. This comprised £18.0 million, £21.6 million, and £5.0 million across the respective timeframes. The combined total for legal and staff costs stands at £100.9 million, though the Cabinet Office cautions this may not be a complete figure.
Staffing Levels and Wider Context
The data also reveals the scale of the Government's internal effort. At the last count, 248 full-time equivalent staff were working on preparing evidence and managing the response. This number had previously peaked at 286 by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
This substantial expenditure is separate from the direct cost of running the inquiry itself, which has already reached £192 million. The inquiry's legal team has previously criticised government departments for delays in handing over documents and attempting to withhold key information, including a failed 2023 legal challenge over Boris Johnson's WhatsApp messages and diaries.
Inquiry's Defence and Future Timeline
A spokesperson for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry defended the process, stating it is "unlike any previous public inquiry" due to its vast scope investigating a pandemic that affected all of society. They emphasised that Chair Baroness Hallett had always been clear that the task would be significant in both time and cost.
"The inquiry is working faster than any previous public inquiry of comparable size," the spokesperson said. They confirmed that nine of its ten hearing modules will be complete by the end of this year, with reports published throughout 2026 and early 2027.
The final goal, they stressed, is to ensure that bereaved families, key workers, and the public learn the truth and see meaningful change to better protect the UK in future. Opposition parties and bereaved families have, however, criticised aspects of the Government's approach, labelling its unsuccessful judicial review as a waste of public money.
The Cabinet Office has been approached for further comment on the latest cost revelations.
