MP accuses Government of hiding Covid data

A Conservative former minister has voiced his “fear” that data on large test events has not been published because “it would have demonstrated that we could have safely opened on June 21″.

Mark Harper, who chairs the lockdown-sceptic Covid Recovery Group, said he suspects the numbers are “fantastically positive” after test events held at sporting, music and other venues have not caused any Covid-19 outbreaks and he is “a little confused” as to why the numbers have not been released.

An urgent question on the Events Research Programme (ERP) was raised on Tuesday, one day after music festival Kendal Calling cancelled its 2021 edition citing a lack of guidance from the Government.

Organisers said the lack of a Government-backed insurance scheme and the delay to the publication of results from the ERP had contributed to the “heart-breaking” decision.

Speaking during the session, Mr Harper said: “I’m a little confused. Normally when the Government doesn’t publish something it’s normally because it’s bad news and it’s trying to hide it away.

“I’ve got a very strong suspicion this set of data is fantastically positive. It must be ready for publication, because it must have been prepared for last week when step 4 was due to be announced so it must be ready to go.

“My fear is it demonstrated the opposite of the decision the Prime Minister announced last week. It would have demonstrated that we could have safely opened on June 21. That’s the real reason why it hasn’t been published, so why doesn’t he publish it today and put our minds at rest?”

Responding, culture minister Nigel Huddleston said: “Some of the conspiracy theories around this, I’m afraid, I wouldn’t buy into.

“We have said already (…) that if there were major concerns we would have made sure that information was in the public arena that would have been the responsible thing to do.

“Some of the initial data points were already announced by the Secretary of State back in May but the report needs to be comprehensive, it needs to be reviewed by a large number of stakeholders in Government, we will be releasing it very soon indeed.”

Earlier in the session, Mr Huddleston told MPs that the test events – including The FA Cup final at Wembley, the Brit Awards and the World Snooker Championship – had not caused any outbreaks.

He said: “Although we are not yet in a position to publish the full report, I can assure the House that post-event data closely monitored have not shown any evidence of the events causing outbreaks.

“If they had, we would have communicated that information urgently.”

Labour also raised concerns on the whereabouts of the data and asked if there was a “secret”.

Shadow culture secretary Jo Stevens said: “I’m afraid there was nothing really in the minister’s response just now to explain the failure to publish the results. What’s the secret?

“Why won’t the Government tell the public, tell the industry and tell us what the results are, because all of those who have spent time and money organising and hosting test events – and those relying on this programme – would like to see the results.”

Ms Stevens questioned if Downing Street had “blocked” the release of the data last week and asked why some events were being used for the pilot project and others were not.

Mr Huddleston replied: “We outlined when we announced the programme that we would release the report prior to step four (of the road map to unlock) and that’s exactly what we will be doing, we will be releasing the report very soon.”