Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 98
The Committee was very disappointed that when the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster declined...
Conclusion
The Committee was very disappointed that when the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster declined to appear before the Committee on 4th February, Ministers sent in his place were poorly briefed and unable to answer the Committee’s questions. The ability of Select Committees to hold Ministers to account for decisions is a vital part of the democratic process. This is particularly true at a time when the country is facing the toughest possible restrictions on our freedoms, and when (as we have previously reported on) detailed scrutiny of the Government’s decisions has not always been possible in the timeframes required. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster’s refusal to attend this Committee and account for decisions made by the taskforce he chairs is contemptuous of Parliament.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response details the roadmap, data publication, and press conferences, along with statistics on the public data dashboard. It completely fails to address the Committee's specific criticism regarding ministerial accountability and appearances.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
98
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
The Government has always been clear that there will be opportunities to look back, analyse, reflect and to learn lessons on all aspects of COVID-19 - and that this would include an independent inquiry at the appropriate time. On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry would be established on a statutory basis - with full formal powers - and that it will begin its work in spring 2022. Aside from the inquiry, the Government of course continues to learn lessons and apply them to its response to COVID. The ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ publication applied all the experience of the pandemic to this strategy to cautiously lift restrictions, not least in the transparent use of data, analysis and modelling used to inform decision making. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster agreed to appear before PACAC to discuss the review into COVID-status certification, and will answer the Committee’s outstanding questions answered during this appearance.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗