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Covid-19 Inquiry
19 July 2024
Lead MP
Pat McFadden
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementNHSTaxationEmployment
Other Contributors: 27
At a Glance
Pat McFadden raised concerns about covid-19 inquiry in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Yesterday, Baroness Hallett published her report on the first module of the UK covid-19 inquiry, which examines preparedness and resilience in the United Kingdom from 2009 to early 2020. The report highlights fundamental failures of state, poor public service performance, health and social inequalities, and a lack of leadership and oversight. Baroness Hallett found that processes, planning, and policy across all four nations failed citizens, with the UK being ill-prepared for dealing with catastrophic emergencies, let alone the coronavirus pandemic. The inquiry also highlights issues such as a focus on influenza to the exclusion of other potential pathogens, failure to learn from past outbreaks, and inadequate prevention measures like test and trace systems. The report underlines inequalities affecting ethnic minorities, those living in overcrowded conditions, gig economy workers, low-income individuals, victims of domestic abuse, and students with limited access to online education. With 8 million people on NHS waiting lists, prisons overflowing, councils pushed to the brink, and public services in worse condition than before the pandemic, resilience is a priority for all. The Government will lead a review of national resilience against various risks, chair a dedicated Cabinet Committee on resilience, work with devolved Governments and local leaders, and contribute to international efforts to improve global health and pandemic preparedness. A full response to Baroness Hallett's recommendations will be provided within six months.
Edward Argar
Con
Melton and Syston
Question
What plans does the Government have to consult devolved Administrations and local government structures on changes proposed for emergency operations? What steps will be taken to ensure better cohesion in emergency planning?
Minister reply
The Government intends to work closely with devolved Governments, regional mayors, and local leaders as it considers Baroness Hallett's recommendations. Steps will include consulting these bodies on detailed changes and ensuring that emergency planning structures are more cohesively joined up to prepare for future pandemics.
Edward Argar
Con
Melton and Syston
Question
The MP expressed gratitude towards the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and highlighted the importance of learning from the pandemic. He asked for plans to consult devolved Administrations and local government structures on the proposed changes, and inquired about steps to ensure cohesive emergency planning.
Minister reply
Pat McFadden confirmed that consultation with devolved Administrations is essential, as well as within England with local authorities. The minister agreed that Baroness Hallett's recommendation for the centre stepping up during a national emergency should be followed.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
The MP paid tribute to NHS staff in her constituency and asked the Chancellor to visit the national covid memorial wall, suggesting ways to make it permanent. She highlighted the importance of remembering victims.
Minister reply
Pat McFadden agreed to revisit the memorial wall with Florence Eshalomi to meet families and look at how to make the wall permanent.
Layla Moran
Lib Dem
Oxford West and Abingdon
Question
The MP paid tribute to Baroness Hallett, focused on leadership failures highlighted by the inquiry, suggested a commissioner for ageing and older people, advocated for care home residents' legal rights, and asked about compensation schemes for long covid victims.
Minister reply
Pat McFadden committed to working across party lines to consider suggestions. He confirmed that colleagues are considering recommendations related to the memorial.
Barry Gardiner
Lab
Brent West
Question
The Minister spoke of resilience. He is aware that Northwick Park hospital in his constituency was the epicentre at the start of the pandemic, and the lack of resilience meant that nurses there had to wear bin bags to protect themselves. I noted that he spoke of Grenfell in his statement. That was fundamentally important, because this is not simply about resilience in health. In that regard, I ask him to look at the issue of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. The same RAAC that caused problems in our schools was used in many housing developments at the time. We need to be resilient to any potential disasters in that respect, too.
Minister reply
I echo my hon. Friend’s tribute to the work of the NHS staff in his constituency. RAAC in public buildings is part of the Government’s inheritance. Just because the problem has slipped down the news agenda somewhat, that does not mean that it has gone away. In time, we will have to address it to ensure that such buildings—whether housing accommodation or public buildings—are safe for people to live in, work in and be treated in.
Mike Wood
Con
Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Question
I congratulate the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on his new role and welcome the tone of his statement. The report is a stark reminder—if any were needed—that even the most eminent and public-spirited scientists can occasionally be wrong when groupthink affects assumptions. What can the Government do to ensure that Ministers and parliamentarians have access to the widest possible range of advice—including, where appropriate, dissenting voices—across a whole range of issues?
Minister reply
The hon. Member is right that groupthink is identified in the report, so it is important for the Government to have access to the widest range of advice, but no part of that, for me or the Government, will be about engaging in anti-science rhetoric or anything of that nature. A diversity of views, yes; a denial of the facts, no.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Shipley
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement. Yesterday evening, I walked alongside the covid memorial wall and was moved by the number of hearts, each one representing someone who died from covid. I extend my sympathies to all the bereaved families who lost loved ones. Many people of all ages continue to suffer the consequences of the lack of resilience and preparedness due to long covid, so will my right hon. Friend reassure Members that those children and adults who continue to suffer with long covid—such as the young granddaughter of one of my constituents in Shipley—will not be forgotten as the inquiry continues its work?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. Again, I echo her comments on the memorial wall. Following the election, we have a lot of new Members in the House; if any of them find themselves with a spare hour, they could do a lot worse than go to the memorial wall, contemplate, and look at the outpouring of grief that is reflected on that wall. My hon. Friend is absolutely right about long covid, which I mentioned in my opening remarks.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Question
I thank the Minister for his statement. As the former Minister of Health in Northern Ireland who served during the pandemic, my thoughts and condolences are with those who were lost and those who were bereaved, and I pay a tribute of thanks to those who worked across health and social care during that trying time. The Minister said that resilience has to be for all of us, not just for some. I ask him to ensure that all the devolved nations are equally involved. He talked about there being a consultation with the devolved nations and regions. Can I ask for it to be more than just a consultation, and for it actually to be a partnership?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Member for his comments. He is quite right: this report covers all parts of the United Kingdom, and it makes a real effort to do so. The new Prime Minister also made an effort to do so in the days following the election, and one of his first priorities was to visit Northern Ireland. I agree with the hon. Member about co-operation—I think it is essential.
Shaun Davies
Lab
Telford
Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend and near neighbour to his place. Like so many families, my family was affected by the death of a loved one during the pandemic, and a small heart on the national memorial wall reflects my auntie for time immemorial. Does my right hon. Friend agree that procurement during a state of emergency such as the pandemic is important, and that any fraud that occurs must be pursued ruthlessly?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and ask that he accepts my condolences on the loss of his auntie during the pandemic. He is absolutely right to draw our attention to the procurement issues that have been highlighted—they are not specifically covered in this report, but they will be. As he will be aware, this Government will bring forward proposals for a covid fraud commissioner to recover as much as we can of the money that was lost to fraud or waste during that period.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
North Shropshire
Question
I welcome the statement from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and was particularly pleased to hear him talk about the role of local government. Local government was instrumental in the response, and I imagine the inquiry will find that had it had a greater role, there would have been better resilience. However, as we know, local government financing is in crisis; my own local council is trying to save £100 million this year. What reassurance can he give us that local councils will be given the funding they need to have in place the resilience we need for the future?
Minister reply
The hon. Member is right to praise the role of local government. My experience in Wolverhampton was that the council stepped up and did a fantastic job for local citizens during the pandemic. The financial position of local government is difficult; the financial position on a number of things is difficult. I am afraid the truth is that I cannot stand here and promise to write big cheques for everything.
Southgate and Wood Green
Question
In her report, Baroness Hallett said: “The UK government’s…pandemic strategy, from 2011, was outdated and lacked adaptability. It was virtually abandoned on its first encounter with the pandemic.” Can my right hon. Friend give me an assurance that any future strategy will be robust and will be updated regularly?
Minister reply
One of the things that Baroness Hallett advises in her report is that every three years there is a proper exercise to test any plan and see whether it is fit for purpose. That is an important recommendation to take away and consider. It is difficult to plan for every possible risk.
Andrew Snowden
Con
Fylde
Question
May I thank the right hon. Gentleman for the constructive way in which this has been approached, looking both at the things that went well and at the things we need to learn? Having external scrutiny from the covid inquiry provides that lens. As the Government look at the recommendations and begin to put plans in place, some of that will build on the work that was already being done and some, as he said, will be on things that need to improve. I suggest that external scrutiny of the Government’s response is equally important. Will he ask Lord Norton’s Statutory Inquiries Committee to monitor the Government’s response to the covid inquiry?
Minister reply
Scrutiny is always good, and I am sure that what we do will be scrutinised. It is really important to have a proper dialogue with the public about these things, because it does no harm for us as citizens, and as Government Ministers, to have a conversation about resilience, about what we do in an emergency.
Cat Eccles
Lab
Stourbridge
Question
I visited the wall this week, and it was a stark reminder of my own experience during the pandemic. I am an operating department practitioner, and I worked in emergency maternity theatres during that time. From day one, there was next to no strategy. Staff were fighting over inadequate personal protective equipment. We tried to speak up, but we were not heard. Even when colleagues sadly lost their lives to the disease, the chaos continued. Will this Government ensure that NHS staff can have an input in future pandemic planning, as it is we who know how best to protect our patients?
Minister reply
I am very, very grateful to my hon. Friend for reflecting her experience. There is nothing that I can add to the power of her words. She is absolutely right that in planning for future pandemics, we have to listen to the voice of the staff, who are the people the country will rely on if we face any kind of similar emergency in future.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
Members on both sides of the House will recognise that children and young people really felt the impact of the pandemic and the lockdowns on their mental health, learning and social and emotional development. The hon. Member asks if the committee will look at putting a proper process in place for school closures and reopening with this House taking a vote.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to draw attention to the impact of pandemic decisions on education and inequality. Future planning should ensure that any changes do not reinforce existing disparities.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that failures of state in the pandemic have often been due to under-investment and ideological suspicion of the state among some, including some members of the last Government?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is correct about the findings in Baroness Hallett’s report: there were indeed failures of state. A change of Government offers an opportunity for fresh eyes on past actions.
Pam Cox
Lab
Colchester
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the legacies of the pandemic are still very much with us, from bereavement to social care system impacts and that this Government’s work must be a work of repair?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is correct: the legacies remain significant. The report highlights inequalities in different ethnic minority communities and underscores the need for resilience for everyone.
Cardiff West
Question
Can my right hon. Friend assure me that when reflecting on recommendations, the voices of the bereaved will be applied so that those insights go into the Government’s response?
Minister reply
Baroness Hallett deserves credit for putting the voices of the bereaved up front in her report, and this spirit must continue as we reflect on the recommendations.
Jayne Kirkham
Lab Co-op
Truro and Falmouth
Question
Will we ensure that local authority public health directors can be more involved with decision making and setting up local solutions such as test and trace?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend highlights the issue of care homes, where PPE was a huge problem in the early months. She is right to urge us to learn from these issues.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Chelsea and Fulham
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that further stages of the inquiry or what the Government now do should identify and learn from the previous Government’s failure to engage appropriately with local authorities not only before but during the pandemic?
Minister reply
The points about local government are well made. The spirit of co-operation is in the public interest, and it is essential for us to work together.
Christopher Vince
Lab Co-op
Harlow
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Government’s initial response to covid was too slow and failed to recognise the seriousness of the issue?
Minister reply
Let me offer my hon. Friend my condolences on his loss. He is right to pay tribute to NHS staff, and Baroness Hallett has set out several failings in her report.
Johanna Baxter
Lab
Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Question
Could my right hon. Friend say a little more about how to ensure that local authorities will be treated as an integral partner in our resilience planning and the response?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is correct; local authorities play an important role. Central Government, devolved Governments, and local authorities must work together.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Question
Is it not the case that our NHS was desperately struggling years before, through mismanagement from the Conservative party, and that lives were unnecessarily lost because of it? Careful preparedness planning and management of our NHS and social care services must be a top priority for this Government.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right; the NHS was in a vulnerable position pre-pandemic. The Secretary of State has begun long-term health efforts, but better strength will not happen overnight.
Sean Woodcock
Lab
Banbury
Question
Welcomed the minister's statement and highlighted the surge in domestic violence during lockdown, asking for action to protect victims.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the issue of increased domestic violence during lockdown and assured that the Minister in charge would champion efforts to reduce violence against women and girls.
Adam Thompson
Lab
Erewash
Question
Asked for a joined-up national strategy considering border differences and close cooperation with scientists.
Minister reply
Emphasised the importance of being joined up across the UK, highlighting that small differences should not hinder cooperative efforts in planning.
Joe Powell
Lab
Kensington and Bayswater
Question
Pointed out that pandemic planning did not account for pre-existing health inequalities and asked for a better plan to protect the most vulnerable.
Minister reply
Agreed on the importance of taking into account findings from inquiries like Grenfell, acknowledging that reducing existing inequalities strengthens national emergency responses.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Southall
Question
Asked about the assessment of structural health inequalities affecting south Asian communities and their disproportionately high death rates.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the prevalence of specific health conditions in certain communities, highlighting that addressing these inequalities strengthens national emergency responses.
Shadow Comment
Edward Argar
Shadow Comment
The Government has acknowledged the findings of Baroness Hallett’s report, emphasising the need for improvement in planning, challenge, resourcing, and leadership. The previous government initiated several measures to enhance resilience, including establishing the resilience directorate within the Cabinet Office, creating the Resilience Academy, and launching a national exercising programme. While acknowledging past failures, the Government is committed to learning lessons from this report and future modules. It plans to consult devolved Administrations and local governments on proposed changes and ensure cohesive emergency planning structures for future pandemics. The Conservative party stands ready to cooperate constructively with the Labour government in building resilience for the country’s future.
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