“Unveiling Insights: The Welsh Government’s Perspective on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 Report”

In July 2024, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry released its initial report The resilience and preparedness of the United Kingdom. Module one of the inquiry examined if the UK was adequately ready for the pandemic. 

The inquiry chair, the Rt Hon Baroness Hallett DBE, has put forth 10 main recommendations directed at both the UK and devolved governments, after meticulously gathering written and oral evidence during module one. Over the past six months, the Welsh Government has collaborated with other UK governments to thoroughly assess and advance these recommendations. Today, I have corresponded with the chair regarding the Welsh Government’s response to her recommendations, which can be accessed here.

The Welsh Government has already implemented significant measures to gain insights from the pandemic while shaping our strategies for preparedness and response. These modifications have been guided by various reviews, including an independent assessment of the Welsh Health Protection System and a review of civil contingencies. This, along with the module one recommendations, has influenced the adjustments to the Welsh preparedness protocols. 

The inquiry’s module one report and its recommendations are the first installment in a series, which will be disseminated by the inquiry. My correspondence with Baroness Hallett reaffirms the Welsh Government’s dedication to deriving lessons from the pandemic, and we remain actively engaged in the UK inquiry by submitting witness statements, including oral testimonies at its hearings, and providing documentation to support this crucial work.

We are continually absorbing lessons from this effort; from the testimonies shared by the expert witnesses of the inquiry and from those who have lost loved ones during the pandemic, along with those who are still feeling its effects.