Campaigners from the Good Law Project and EveryDoctor took the Department of Health and Social Care to court over claims that suppliers with political links were given an unfair advantage in obtaining contracts running into hundreds of millions of pounds.
In a ruling released yesterday, judge Mrs Justice O’Farrell found that the VIP lane system was “in breach of the obligation of equal treatment”, adding: “The illegality is marked by this judgment.”
At the height of the first wave of coronavirus, a number of bids to supply PPE such as gowns, masks, and gloves were passed on to officials by ministers including then health secretary Matt Hancock after they were approached directly by contacts.
The groups took legal action over more than £340m in contracts awarded to pest control firm PestFix and a contract worth around £252m to the hedge fund Ayanda Capital. They argued that suppliers including PestFix and Ayanda were prioritised “because of who they knew, not what they could deliver”.
この記事は The Independent の January 13, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は The Independent の January 13, 2022 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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