Recommendation 1

HM Government Not Addressed

Introduction from the Committee The scale and nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s response are unprecedented in recent history. By the end of March 2021, the estimated lifetime cost of measures announced as part of the government’s response was £372 billion. By 10 June 2021, we had held 20 evidence sessions on various aspects of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These have included the employment support schemes, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, NHS Test and Trace, supporting the vulnerable during lockdown, and government procurement and the supply of personal protective equipment. This report sets out our views on what government can learn from its response to the pandemic and what it should do to ensure that those lessons are applied and improve both its ability to respond to emergencies and its business-as-usual service delivery. This report is the first in a body of evidence that we are developing and which will inform the future independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The public inquiry is expected to start in spring 2022 and may take come years to complete. We are clear that government cannot wait for the review before learning important lessons. Based on a report by the National Audit Office, the Committee took evidence on Thursday 10 June from the Cabinet Office, Department of Health and Social Care and HM Treasury. The Committee published its report on Published on 25 July 2021. This is the government’s response to the Committee’s report. Relevant reports ● NAO report: Initial learning from the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic – Session 2021-22 (HC 66) ● PAC report: Initial lessons from the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic – Session 2021-22 (HC 175) Government response to the Committee