Coronavirus contracts awarded by the UK government worth more than £3.7bn raise a red flag for possible corruption, says an article on News sky.
Favored those with political access
Transparency International UK says that how the government handled bids for supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) and other pandemic contracts appeared to favor those with political access.
The independent anti-corruption organization identified 73 contracts worth more than £3.7bn – equivalent to 20% of all contracts between February and November of last year – whose award “merits further investigation”.
It found that of the cases of concern, 24 contracts for PPE worth £1.6bn were awarded to those with known political connections to the Conservative Party.
A review of these “high-risk contracts” identified 15 areas of concern, such as uncompetitive tendering and politically connected contractors.
Systemic bias
The organization’s report said the system designed to triage offers of PPE supplies appeared to be “partisan and riven with systemic bias”.
They found that between February and November, some 98.9% of COVID-related contracts by value (£17.8bn) were awarded without any form of competition.
The organization’s chief executive Daniel Bruce said: “There are now very serious questions for the government to answer.”
A government spokesman responded: “All PPE procurement went through the same assurance process and due diligence as carried out on every contract – ministers have no role in awarding them.”
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Source: News sky
