Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, felt the wrath of the judge after the Good Law Project took legal action against the DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) after it failed to release details of coronavirus-related contracts, said to be in the billions’ worth.
It is not unusual, in fact, very typical, of governments agreeing on large contracts with companies for political or economic gain, but failing to publish details breaks the rules if said contracts for public goods or services worth more than £120,000 are not published within 30 days.
The judge, Mr Justice Chamberlain, said: “There is now no dispute that, in a substantial number of cases, the Secretary of State (Matt Hancock) breached his legal obligation to publish contract award notices within 30 days of the award of contracts.”
It is the right of public interest to be informed how much money has been spent, who and what it was spent on and details of how and to whom contracts were awarded.
Hancock, in his role, not only failed his duties but breached regulations.
