UK ministers who recommended firms to the UK Government's fast-tracked "VIP lane" for Covid-related contracts are set to be revealed.
The Tories also promised to release the names of companies that won the lucrative personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts, which saw many firms win deals without competitive tender.
Several Tory-linked firms have been awarded the coronavirus contracts, which has seen the SNP accuse the Tories of sleaze and cronyism.
A report by MPs stated the value of the contracts awarded through the fast-tracked lane was £1.7 billion.
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Ministers were also found to have "lobbied" government officials within the VIP lane on behalf of businesses with personal connections.
The Department for Health and Social Care has so far blocked requests from newspapers and campaign groups to release the names of the firms who won the contracts.
But now The Times is reporting that after a complaint was lodged with the transparency regulator, the Information Commissioner, the department will now release the records after “an extensive examination of records held by the department as we must be sure that any information placed in the public domain is accurate”.
However, lawyers have doubted whether the UK Government will follow through on its promises.
Director of Good Law Project, Jo Maugham, told openDemocracy: “This government is to scrutiny as a vampire is to sunlight, so I have my doubts about whether it will actually happen.
"But if it does, it will be a welcome, albeit belated, step towards undoing some of the harm done by this government’s approach to pandemic procurement.”
A National Audit Office report in 2020 found that firms that were fast-tracked were 10 times more likely to land a deal.
Of the 493 suppliers who were on the VIP list, 47 were awarded contracts with competitive tender.
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A report by a UK parliamentary committee also found that of the 47 successful bidders, 12 were referred by MPs, seven by peers and 18 by officials.
But in another five cases, it is not known who referred the companies.
The Department of Health and Social Care has so far declined to say when the records will be unveiled.
A department spokesperson said: "Covid-19 procurement went through robust assurance processes and due diligence is carried out on every contract – ministers have no role in awarding them."
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