Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Pandemic: Public Inquiry

Thursday 31 March 2022 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kate Osamor questioned the Government on why the public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic will not hold hearings until 2023.
  • The Government responded that the timing of the inquiry stages is determined by the independent chair under the Inquiries Act 2005.
  • Fleur Anderson expressed concerns from bereaved families about delayed public hearings of the COVID inquiry, starting in spring 2023 instead of spring 2022.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kate Osamor Labour (Co-op) Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
NHS
Context

The public inquiry into the UK's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked concerns among bereaved families and campaigners who wish to see evidence hearings commence as soon as possible.

Question

For what reason the public inquiry into the covid-19 pandemic will not hold public evidence hearings until 2023. Many bereaved families and campaigners are anxious to hear the truth about the Government's handling of the pandemic in a public inquiry. Meanwhile, the Government have admitted that none of the Prime Minister's mobile phone messages up until April 2021 will be accessible to the inquiry, because he got a new phone. In the light of that, will the Minister confirm a date when the public hearings will be formally established?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The timing of the statutory inquiry's various stages is, under the Inquiries Act 2005, a matter for its independent chair to determine. What the Government are doing is following the statutory provisions of the Inquiries Act 2005, which, as the hon. Lady will recall, was passed by a Labour Government. The Act says that it is up to the inquiry chair, in this case Baroness Heather Hallett. She is a leading figure and is dealing with the matter, and it will be for her to determine dates.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a specific date when public hearings would be formally established, but the answerer did not provide this information, instead referring to the statutory provisions which do not specify exact dates.

How: Under The Inquiries Act 2005, It Is Up To The Independent Chair To Determine

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Q2 Kate Osamor Labour (Co-op) Edmonton and Winchmore Hill
NHS
Context

The public inquiry's delay in beginning hearings has caused anxiety among bereaved families and campaigners, who are also concerned about the loss of crucial evidence due to changes in communication methods.

Question

Many bereaved families and campaigners are anxious to hear the truth about the Government's handling of the pandemic in a public inquiry. Meanwhile, the Government have admitted that none of the Prime Minister's mobile phone messages up until April 2021 will be accessible to the inquiry, because he got a new phone. In the light of that, will the Minister confirm a date when the public hearings will be formally established?

Answer from Michael Ellis

What the Government are doing is following the statutory provisions of the Inquiries Act 2005, which, as the hon. Lady will recall, was passed by a Labour Government. The Act says that it is up to the inquiry chair, in this case Baroness Heather Hallett. She is a leading figure and is dealing with the matter, and it will be for her to determine dates.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a specific date when public hearings would be formally established, but the answerer did not provide this information, instead referring to the statutory provisions which do not specify exact dates.

How: Under The Inquiries Act 2005, It Is Up To The Independent Chair To Determine

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Q3 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
NHS
Context

Bereaved families at a memorial march expressed fury and devastation over the delay in starting public hearings for the COVID-19 pandemic inquiry, originally promised to start in spring but now looking towards spring next year. They are also concerned about the deletion of WhatsApp messages.

Question

I spoke to some of the bereaved families at the memorial march this week, and they are furious and devastated that the public hearings of the covid inquiry will not be starting in the spring, as promised; instead, it looks as though it will be spring next year. This inquiry cannot be compromised any further, so have the Government learned the lessons from the deletion of the WhatsApp messages, which would no doubt have been crucial evidence in this inquiry, and will they ensure that any pandemic-related messages from Ministers and former Ministers in WhatsApp or private email accounts are passed over and safely stored to prevent further unfortunate losses of evidence?

Answer from Michael Ellis

I do not accept the contention that there has been any loss of evidence. Baroness Hallett has confirmed that her investigation will begin once the terms of reference are finalised. It is logical that evidence has to be gathered before it can be heard, and she has said that she intends to gather evidence throughout this year, with public hearings beginning in 2023. She has made it clear that she will do everything in her power to deliver recommendations as soon as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for a commitment from the government regarding the preservation and passing over of WhatsApp messages, but the answerer did not provide this specific information or commitment.

How: I Do Not Accept The Contention That There Has Been Any Loss Of Evidence

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