Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
Paragraph: 143
It is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision...
Conclusion
It is deeply worrying that Ministers were unable to answer basic questions about the decision to lift the first lockdown. Proper Parliamentary scrutiny leads to better decision-making and builds trust. While this report does not comment on whether the Government made the right decision, the Committee expects Ministers to be able to justify the Government’s decisions and to explain the data underpinning them. Fielding Ministers who cannot answer questions is wilful evasion of scrutiny. Given how absolutely crucial that decision was for the health, wellbeing and fundamental freedoms of everyone in the country, the inability of Ministers to answer this Committee’s questions was lamentable and unacceptable.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government committed to establishing a public inquiry on COVID-19 by spring 2022 and stated that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster would appear before the committee to answer outstanding questions.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
143
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
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, including an independent inquiry at the appropriate time. The Prime Minister confirmed a public inquiry would be established on a statutory basis, beginning in spring 2022. The ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ publication applied all the experience of the pandemic to this strategy, using transparent data, analysis and modelling 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 during this appearance. The roadmap sets out four tests to determine whether it is safe to move to the next step, with assessments and associated data and modelling published. The Government ensures data is available and accessible to the public on key metrics, with the public Dashboard having clear links to data at lower local authority level. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to the Chair on 24 March 2021, setting out the Government’s response regarding publishing thresholds for tiering decisions. The 'COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021' update set out detailed data and analysis underpinning the approach to easing lockdown, including economic and social impacts. SAGE papers are also routinely released once related policies are no longer in development, enabling scrutiny and challenge.
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