Covid inquiry rejects last-minute bid from Michelle Mone

The Covid inquiry has rejected a last-minute bid that will have allowed Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman to entry paperwork and different proof about PPE offers through the pandemic.

Final week each people requested to change into “core contributors” within the inquiry – a authorized standing which additionally provides the appropriate to make statements and apply to ask questions of witnesses.

PPE Medpro, led by Mr Barrowman, was awarded authorities contracts price greater than £200m throughout Covid after Baroness Mone beneficial the agency to ministers.

The inquiry has already dominated that proof concerning the firm will likely be heard in personal later this month to keep away from prejudicing an ongoing Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) investigation. Baroness Mone, 52, and Mr Barrowman, 59, have denied wrongdoing.

Up to now, no prison fees have been introduced and the NCA has not instructed the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Covid inquiry has now opened 4 weeks of public hearings into the provision and distribution of £15bn of PPE and different medical gear within the pandemic.

On February 27, Baroness Mone, Mr Barrowman and PPE Medpro wrote to the inquiry saying that they had a major position in proceedings they usually “could also be topic to specific and vital criticism”.

In addition they argued that they had issues concerning the conduct of the NCA, which has been investigating PPE Medpro since Might 2021.

As core contributors they might have been granted entry to paperwork and different witness proof offered to the Covid inquiry. Contributors should signal a confidentiality settlement and use that data just for inquiry functions.

The inquiry’s chair, Baroness Hallett, rejected the couple’s method saying she didn’t settle for that they had a big sufficient position “within the issues to be investigated by the inquiry”.

She additionally mentioned their software had been made after a November 2023 deadline.

“While Medpro was a major provider of PPE to the UK authorities, it was however certainly one of a variety of such suppliers and there are a number of different contracts that the inquiry is investigating,” she mentioned.

Baroness Hallet has beforehand mentioned she is not going to take proof instantly from representatives of companies concerned in supplying PPE, an method which has angered teams representing bereaved households.

As a substitute her essential focus is on the method of ministers and the federal government, she added.

PPE Medpro was certainly one of dozens of corporations which received authorities contracts after being referred via the “VIP lane” – formally referred to as the high-priority lane.

Launched in April 2020, the thought was to fast-track gives to produce PPE in the event that they got here with a advice from ministers, MPs, members of the Home of Lords or different senior officers.

On the time the federal government mentioned there was a “determined want” to guard well being and social care workers, and it was argued swift motion was required to safe PPE.

New analysis for the Covid inquiry discovered nearly a 3rd of presidency contracts to purchase masks, robes and different gear had gone via the VIP lane.

Knowledge confirmed that, of the 430 gives made in that means, 115 had been profitable. These companies had been 17 occasions extra prone to win a contract than these outdoors the VIP lane system.

Peter Munro, coverage supervisor on the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition, a gaggle made up of procurement, transparency and contract specialists, mentioned the newest information “confirmed a few of our worst fears”.

“PPE procured via the excessive precedence lane was 80% costlier than PPE procured via different channels, and half if it was unfit for function,” he mentioned.