Scotland's inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic has cost £1million - every month - it has emerged.
The Times reports that in the three years since the inquiry was launched in February 2022, up until June this year, the cost totaled £42million, which works out as the highest monthly cost of any Scottish inquiry in almost two decades.
Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative finance spokesman, said the figure was a "concern" and should be
He told The Times: “Spending an extraordinary £1million of taxpayers’ cash a month on this inquiry must be a cause for concern and requires scrutiny.
“It must, however, be balanced against the importance of obtaining transparency and answers for the families of those who died or were bereaved during the pandemic.”
A Scottish government spokesman said: “Public inquiries operate independently of government, and it is for the chair — who has an ongoing duty to avoid unnecessary costs — to direct how he or she carries out its functions.”
A charity taking part in the inquiry, Long Covid Kids, highlighted that the cost was "small in comparison" to other governmental spending, while the Scottish Trades Union Congress pointed out that that inquiries are expensive "by their nature", with the Covid inquiry having "the widest remit".
Read the full story on The Times website.