Boris Johnson appears to have misled parliament over the publication of coronavirus contracts, according to a new court order. The Government is required by law to publish a “contract award notice” within 30 days of the award of any contracts for public goods or services worth more than £120,000. It also claimed the Government was breaching its own transparency policy, which requires the publication of details of public contracts worth more than £10,000. But he added the DHSC’s “historic failure” to comply with the obligations to publish contracts because of the difficulties caused by the pandemic was “an excuse, not a justification”. “This has often meant having to award contracts at speed to secure the vital supplies required to protect NHS workers and the public.

Source: The Herald March 05, 2021 14:48 UTC