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| Covid inquiry first preliminary hearing begins | Covid inquiry first preliminary hearing begins |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The first preliminary hearing of the UK Covid public inquiry has begun. | The first preliminary hearing of the UK Covid public inquiry has begun. |
| The one-day hearing had originally been scheduled last month but was delayed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. | The one-day hearing had originally been scheduled last month but was delayed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. |
| The session, in London, is focusing on the UK's pandemic preparedness before 2020. | The session, in London, is focusing on the UK's pandemic preparedness before 2020. |
| At this stage, it involves lawyers and an announcement about who will be giving evidence. Public hearings where witnesses are called will not start until the spring. | |
| The inquiry formally started in the summer, with a listening exercise. | The inquiry formally started in the summer, with a listening exercise. |
| But this first preliminary hearing is still being seen as an important milestone for the families who lost loved ones. | But this first preliminary hearing is still being seen as an important milestone for the families who lost loved ones. |
| 'We need answers and people held to account' | 'We need answers and people held to account' |
| Lindsay Jackson's mother, Sylvia, 87, died from Covid during the first lockdown, after contracting it at a care home. | Lindsay Jackson's mother, Sylvia, 87, died from Covid during the first lockdown, after contracting it at a care home. |
| Ms Jackson, of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group, said it was essential lessons were learned. | Ms Jackson, of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice campaign group, said it was essential lessons were learned. |
| She was "really pleased" the inquiry was finally starting but it had taken too long to reach this stage. | She was "really pleased" the inquiry was finally starting but it had taken too long to reach this stage. |
| "It's two-and-a-half years since the pandemic started," she said. | "It's two-and-a-half years since the pandemic started," she said. |
| "We lost so many people. If people have done things wrong, they need to be held accountable. | "We lost so many people. If people have done things wrong, they need to be held accountable. |
| "For me, my family and the others who lost loved ones, it's important that answers are found to the questions that we have." | "For me, my family and the others who lost loved ones, it's important that answers are found to the questions that we have." |
| The inquiry: What you need to know | The inquiry: What you need to know |
| Baroness Hallett previously presided over the inquests into the terror attacks in London on 7 July 2005 | Baroness Hallett previously presided over the inquests into the terror attacks in London on 7 July 2005 |
| Chaired by former High Court judge Baroness Hallett, the inquiry is so wide ranging it has had to be split into separate sections - or modules, as they are being called. | Chaired by former High Court judge Baroness Hallett, the inquiry is so wide ranging it has had to be split into separate sections - or modules, as they are being called. |
| The content of the first three has been announced|: | The content of the first three has been announced|: |
| planning and preparedness | planning and preparedness |
| political decision-making | political decision-making |
| health care | health care |
| The topics of further modules will be announced in 2023. | The topics of further modules will be announced in 2023. |
| They are likely to cover issues such as: | They are likely to cover issues such as: |
| vaccines | vaccines |
| the care sector | the care sector |
| government procurement | government procurement |
| test-and-trace | test-and-trace |
| business and finance | business and finance |
| devolution | devolution |
| education | education |
| health inequalities | health inequalities |
| The preliminary hearing for module two - political decision-making at the start of the pandemic between January and March 2020, including the timing of the first lockdown - is expected to be in November | The preliminary hearing for module two - political decision-making at the start of the pandemic between January and March 2020, including the timing of the first lockdown - is expected to be in November |
| Public hearings for module one are expected to start in the spring and then for module two later in 2023. | Public hearings for module one are expected to start in the spring and then for module two later in 2023. |
| The inquiry can compel witnesses to give evidence and release documents but cannot prosecute or fine anyone. | The inquiry can compel witnesses to give evidence and release documents but cannot prosecute or fine anyone. |
| Covid pandemic public inquiry terms finalised | Covid pandemic public inquiry terms finalised |
| Learn lessons before next pandemic, inquiry pledges | Learn lessons before next pandemic, inquiry pledges |
| Several reports have already put the UK government's handling of the pandemic at the start under the spotlight. | Several reports have already put the UK government's handling of the pandemic at the start under the spotlight. |
| Last year, a report by MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee said the UK's failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the country's worst public health failures. | Last year, a report by MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee said the UK's failure to do more to stop Covid spreading early in the pandemic was one of the country's worst public health failures. |
| It said the government approach - backed by its scientists - to try to manage the situation and in effect achieve herd immunity by infection had delayed the first lockdown, costing thousands of lives. | It said the government approach - backed by its scientists - to try to manage the situation and in effect achieve herd immunity by infection had delayed the first lockdown, costing thousands of lives. |
| And a report by spending watchdog the National Audit Office, published in late 2021, found ministers had not been properly prepared for a pandemic like Covid-19 and lacked detailed plans on: | And a report by spending watchdog the National Audit Office, published in late 2021, found ministers had not been properly prepared for a pandemic like Covid-19 and lacked detailed plans on: |
| shielding | shielding |
| job-support schemes | job-support schemes |
| school disruption | school disruption |
| One issue likely to come under scrutiny in module one is how much was learned from Exercise Cygnus, a 2016 government exercise simulating a flu pandemic. | One issue likely to come under scrutiny in module one is how much was learned from Exercise Cygnus, a 2016 government exercise simulating a flu pandemic. |
| Meanwhile, Lady Poole, the judge appointed, in December, to lead the inquiry into the Scottish government's Covid response has resigned from the role for personal reasons. | Meanwhile, Lady Poole, the judge appointed, in December, to lead the inquiry into the Scottish government's Covid response has resigned from the role for personal reasons. |