Covid investigation will not include panel in application to speed up process

A woman leaves a message at the National Covid Memorial Wall in central London. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

The Covid-19 Inquiry will not include a commission, Rishi Sunak ruled, in an attempt to cut bureaucracy and speed up the process.

In a written statement to parliament, the prime minister said the investigation response to the pandemic would be «most effective and expeditious» if its chair sits without a commission.

There have been concerns about how long the investigation could take, with some estimates as long as up to seven years. The first public hearings should start in June.

Baroness Heather Hallett was appointed head of the investigation by Boris Johnson in 2021. At the time, he said additional panel members would be appointed to make sure the investigation had access to «the full range of expertise needed to complete its important work.»

But Mr. Sunak said he “is conscious of recent criticism regarding how long it may take for a public inquiry to reach its conclusions.”

He wrote: “Baroness Hallett stressed that she is keen to start hearing evidence and make timely recommendations as soon as possible .

«To assist in this, and after careful consideration and consultation with Baroness Hallett, I have determined that the investigation will be most efficient and speedy if Baroness Hallett sits without commission.»

The Prime Minister said that Baroness Hallett, a former judge of the Court of Appeal, will be assisted by «scientific, economic and other experts» and will hear «those most affected from the pandemic, including those who have tragically lost their loved ones.”

“It is putting in place mechanisms to enable an investigation to gather the wide range of evidence and expertise needed to operate effectively and efficiently, with findings and recommendations published as soon as possible,” he wrote.

“Therefore, I believe that the investigation there will be access to a range of expertise, negating the need for a commission. For these reasons, and also for reasons of speed, I have decided not to hold a commission in order to sit next to Baroness Hallett.

“It is in the public interest that the investigation be thorough, rigorous and comprehensive, but also present its report without excessive delays.”

The first part of the Covid-19 investigation, which his legal team has asked to be postponed from May to June, will focus on UK pandemic preparedness and resilience, with thousands of pages of government evidence to be reviewed as part of the process .

Other modules will look at the decisions made by Mr Johnson, then the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the impact of Covid on health systems.