Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Covid-19: Public Inquiry — [Mr Virendra Sharma in the Chair]

19 April 2022 · 1 other contributor · 3,468 words

Opened by Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea

Responding minister: Heather Wheeler

NHS

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Marsha de Cordova raised concerns about covid-19: public inquiry — [mr virendra sharma in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about disproportionate impact of the pandemic on disabled people, with six in ten COVID-related deaths involving disabled individuals.
  • Disabled people faced significant challenges in accessing essential services, financial support, education, employment, and goods and services during the pandemic.
  • MP urged the Government to include specific reference to disability in the inquiry's terms of reference and to prioritise the needs of disabled people in future pandemic preparations.

Key requests to Government

I urge the Government to ensure that specific reference to disability is included in the inquiry's terms of reference. I also ask for assurances that disabled people will be at the heart of future pandemic preparations and that their needs are properly understood and prioritised.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea

I am concerned about the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on disabled people, who accounted for six in ten COVID-related deaths. The risk of death involving COVID was 3.1 times higher for disabled men and 3.5 times higher for disabled women compared to their non-disabled counterparts. Disabled people faced significant challenges in accessing essential services, financial support, education, employment, and goods and services during the pandemic.

Other contributors (1)
  • John Hayes Con South Holland and The Deepings

    Grateful for the establishment of the inquiry, John Hayes asked the Minister to include the death care sector in its terms of reference. He highlighted the extraordinary challenges faced by funeral directors, morticians, gravediggers, and bereavement councillors during the pandemic, urging access to PPE, organisation of funerals, and vaccination priority.

Government Response

Heather Wheeler

Welcoming the debate on setting up an effective public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic, Heather Wheeler confirmed that Baroness Hallett would lead a period of public engagement before making recommendations to the Prime Minister. The draft terms of reference cover preparedness, health and care sector response, economic response, decision-making at various levels, and disparities in impact by protected characteristics. Over 20,000 individuals and organisations responded to the consultation. Baroness Hallett will make final recommendations in May, with public hearings beginning in 2023.

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