There are concerns that the UK-wide Covid inquiry will not focus enough on Welsh issues.
Chair of the UK's Covid inquiry Baroness Hallett set a timetable, with preliminary hearings starting this year, and the first witnesses to be called next spring. The former High Court judge also confirmed that the inquiry will examine the response to the pandemic in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, this has been met with some scepticism after the first three modules were announced.
The first module will examine the resilience and preparedness of the UK for the coronavirus pandemic. The second module, which will be dealt with in parts, will look at core political and administrative governance and decision-making by each of the UK's governments. Module three will investigate the impact of Covid, and governmental and societal responses to it, on healthcare systems, including on patients, hospitals and other healthcare workers and staff.
Of the three modules announced so far, preparedness, government decision-making, and healthcare, only the second one will have a sub-module specifically examining Wales..
Welsh Conservative shadow health minister Russell George MS criticised this saying: "I am disappointed in to see in this framework the potential for the actions of the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay to get lost in a UK-wide investigation. I will be calling on the Baroness Hallett to reiterate her commitment to properly examining devolved governments and reflect this in the inquiry’s workings."
Why is this controversial?
The reason that many people in Wales are concerned about a lack of focus by the devolved administrations is that there remains a great deal of anger that the Welsh Government will not be holding a Wales-specific inquiry into Covid-19 and its handling of the crisis. Despite the fact that the Mark Drakeford-led Welsh Government was in charge of the Covid response through the pandemic, the First Minister has refused to have a Welsh-specific inquiry saying that the decisions made in Wales can only be understood if viewed in a UK-wide context.
Bereaved families groups have pointed out that despite significant fatalities in Wales, the Welsh Government has been keen to use its response to the crisis for political gains ahead of the 2021 Senedd election. WalesOnline has covered this issue extensively including writing this list of all the things a Welsh Covid inquiry needed to look at and telling the stories of the families who unnecessarily lost loved ones during the pandemic.
Mr George continued: “Of course, Mark Drakeford could do the right thing and order the Wales-specific inquiry we deserve in our search for accountability for the decisions taken – from hospital-acquired infections to school closures to business support – that resulted in the most Covid-related deaths of all UK nations.”
Will the UK-wide Covid inquiry really look in detail at Wales?
It important to bear in mind that these are just the first three modules of the inquiry and that others will also be announced. These are expected to cover both 'system' and 'impact' issues including vaccines, therapeutics and anti-viral treatment; the care sector; government procurement and personal protective equipment (PPE); testing and tracing; government business and financial responses; health inequalities and the impact of Covid-19; education, children and young persons; and the impact of Covid-19 on public services and on other sectors. The inquiry will be looking at the impact of the pandemic on inequalities at every stage of its investigations.
Speaking about the launch of the three modules Baroness Hallett said: "With such a wide scope, I will need to be ruthless. It will be impossible to call every witness relate to every event, issue or major decision. So the inquiry must focus on the key issues. One purpose of this inquiry is to provide a factual narrative account of what happened across the whole of the UK. Another is to learn lessons to inform preparations for future pandemics in the UK. I am determined to undertake and conclude the work of this inquiry as speedily as possible, so that lessons are learned before another pandemic strikes.
"I will treat all holders of evidence and witnesses fairly as I'm required to do, but equally I will not hesitate to make my views clear about any organisation or person who stands in the way of the inquiry performing its tasks. I do not have the power to prosecute or have proceedings brought against anyone, let alone fine or imprison people as a result of the acts or omissions in respect to the pandemic."
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