Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Public Inquiry

Thursday 27 May 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial commitment to ensuring that the voices of victims and bereaved families are heard in the public inquiry into the covid-19 outbreak.
  • Labour MPs called for urgent meetings and consultations with representatives from bereaved families to ensure their concerns are addressed.
  • Minister pledged to work with victims' groups to ensure the inquiry's terms and chair can command the full confidence of grieving relatives.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS
Context

The MP is concerned about the progress of establishing a public inquiry into the covid-19 outbreak, which was promised by the Prime Minister on May 12th.

Question

What progress have the Government made on the public inquiry into the covid-19 outbreak? The healing will not start until the public inquiry begins. Yesterday's Select Committees' damning evidence clearly caused significant pain to grieving families. They need answers now—they need to know whether decisions by this Government could have avoided the death of their loved ones, and that includes 396 families in my city of York. Does the Minister understand why the commencement of the public inquiry must not be delayed until next year, especially following yesterday's evidence? Will he bring it forward and ensure that bereaved families not only are consulted on the scope of the inquiry but have their questions answered?

Answer from Michael Gove

A statutory inquiry is obviously the right way to ensure that all the right questions are asked and that full answers are arrived at. To ensure that the inquiry works, the experience, voices and views of those who have suffered so much must be a critical part in ensuring that it is set up appropriately.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to bringing forward the commencement date of the public inquiry despite the urgency raised by the questioner.

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Q2 Afzal Khan Lab Manchester Rusholme
NHS
Context

The MP, having visited the covid memorial wall, is seeking a meeting with Minister to discuss the importance of hearing the voices of bereaved families in the upcoming public inquiry.

Question

Given the importance of this inquiry to bereaved families, will the Minister agree to meet me and representatives from Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice as soon as possible, to ensure that their voices are heard?

Answer from Michael Gove

First, may I pass on my condolences to the hon. Member for the sad loss of members of his family? So many people have lost those dear to them. That is why it is so important that, at the inquiry, we ensure that the voices of victims are heard and their questions are answered properly and fully.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to a specific meeting but expressed understanding about the importance of hearing bereaved families' voices in the inquiry.

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Q3 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Context

The MP is concerned about the delay in establishing the public inquiry and the urgent need for answers to grieving families.

Question

Does the Minister understand why the commencement of the public inquiry must not be delayed until next year, especially following yesterday's evidence? Will he bring it forward and ensure that bereaved families not only are consulted on the scope of the inquiry but have their questions answered?

Answer from Michael Gove

To ensure that the inquiry works, the experience, voices and views of those who have suffered so much must be a critical part in ensuring that it is set up appropriately.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to bringing forward the commencement date or consulting bereaved families despite the urgency raised by the questioner.

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Q4 Jack Dromey Lab
Context

The MP is concerned about ensuring the public inquiry has full confidence from bereaved families, particularly regarding who will be the chair and the scope of the inquiry.

Question

Does the Minister agree that it is imperative that the public inquiry has the full confidence of the relatives who are grieving to this day? Will he therefore commit to ensuring that the bereaved families groups are fully consulted on who is the chair of the inquiry and the inquiry's terms of reference? Finally, will he commit to the Prime Minister meeting personally the covid-19 bereaved families?

Answer from Michael Gove

I look forward, as everyone in the Government does, to working with victims' groups to ensure that the inquiry can command their confidence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to specific consultations or a meeting between bereaved families and the Prime Minister despite the questioner's request for concrete commitments.

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