The Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee has been set up by the Senedd to look at reports at each stage of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry and propose to the Senedd by motion, any gaps identified in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic that should be subject to further examination.
The Committee is made up of six Members and is co-chaired by Joyce Watson MS. There are currently two vacancies on the Committee.
Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee co-chairs Tom Giffard MS and Joyce Watson MS statement:
“The Covid-19 pandemic had a big impact on the lives of everyone in Wales and this Committee will reflect that by doing everything it can to fulfil its specific remit, which is to monitor the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and identify any gaps in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government to the pandemic that should be examined further.
"The Committee will detail the scope of its work once it has seen the first UK Covid Inquiry report. Until then, the Committee will continue with preparations, including meeting again early in 2024 with academics and experts, to take advice on relevant issues arising from the UK Covid Inquiry. These meetings will be conducted in public and details will be made available soon.”
11 July 2023
The Senedd research service has prepared monitoring reports providing a summary of some of the key issues arising from the UK COVID-19 Public Inquiry.
On 12 July 2023, the Senedd agreed Temporary Standing Order 35 to make provisions for the operation of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.
Temporary Standing Order 35 included a requirement for the Co-chairs of the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee to agree and publish a protocol setting out their joint ways of working.
chevron_rightThe Committee was established on Tuesday 16 May 2023, in accordance with Standing Order 16.5. The Committee’s remit is to:
The Senedd agreed that in undertaking its work the Committee will not revisit the conclusions of completed Senedd Committee inquiries and should seek to avoid duplication. It also agreed that the Committee will not be prohibited from investigating matters previously examined by Senedd Committees where there is updated information and a clear benefit of further scrutiny.
