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.

The committee was established on Tuesday 16 May in accordance with Standing Order 16.5 with the remit to:

i) Following the publication of the reports at each stage of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and in the context of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s terms of reference and timetable, 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.

ii) Subject to Senedd approval, undertake a review into those areas identified for further examination.

iii) Publish reports and make recommendations accordingly.

The Senedd also:

b) agreed that the Special Purpose Committee will not revisit the conclusions of completed Senedd Committee inquiries and should seek to avoid duplication.

c) agreed that the Special Purpose 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.

2. Calls on the Business Committee to ensure that the Special Purpose Committee’s reports will be debated in Plenary no later than two months after their publication.