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Public Inquiry

UK COVID-19 Inquiry

Status: Ongoing Chair: Baroness Heather Hallett Established: Apr 2022 Commissioned by: Cabinet Office

Public inquiry examining the UK's response to and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and learning lessons for the future. The inquiry is examining preparedness, decision-making, health and social care, vaccines, and the impact on different communities.

Inquiry Website Terms of Reference Parliament Costs ‹ Previous Next ›

Response breakdown

55 recommendations total
35%
9%
47%
19 (35%) — Accepted
5 (9%) — Accepted in Part
3 (5%) — Under Review
26 (47%) — Awaiting Response
2 (4%) — Not Applicable

Data last updated: 16 Jul 2026 · Data verified: 14 Jul 2026 (Claude)

Key facts

Duration (ongoing): 4 years, 3 months Total cost: £213.7m

Reports & milestones

Reports

18 Jul 2024 10 tracked recs Module 1: Resilience and Preparedness · Tracked recommendations · PDF
20 Nov 2025 19 tracked recs Module 2: Core Decision-Making · Tracked recommendations · PDF
19 Mar 2026 10 tracked recs Module 3: Impact on Healthcare Systems · Tracked recommendations · PDF
16 Apr 2026 5 tracked recs Module 4: Vaccines and Therapeutics · Tracked recommendations · PDF
14 Jul 2026 11 tracked recs Module 5: Procurement · Tracked recommendations · PDF
30 Nov 2023 0 tracked recs Every Story Matters · PDF

Timeline

12 May 2021 Inquiry announced Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a statutory public inquiry. · Source
15 Dec 2021 Chair Appointed Baroness Hallett appointed as Chair.
28 Jun 2022 Terms of Referenc… Terms of Reference finalised after consultation. · Source
04 Oct 2022 Preliminary Heari… First preliminary hearing held.
13 Jun 2023 Module 1 hearings… Module 1 examining preparedness and resilience began.
03 Oct 2023 Module 2 Hearings Module 2 examining core UK decision-making.
15 Jan 2024 Module 2 Devolved… Hearings examining Scottish, Welsh and NI decision-making.
18 Jul 2024 Module 1 report p… First report on pandemic preparedness published. · Source
Show all 15 milestones
09 Sep 2024 Module 3: Healthc… Module 3 examining impact on healthcare systems began.
20 Nov 2025 Module 2 report p… The Inquiry published its report on core UK decision-making and political governance (Modules 2, 2A, 2B and 2C). · Source
31 Dec 2025 Further Modules P… Modules on vaccines, care sector, and other topics planned through 2026.
05 Mar 2026 Hearings conclude The Inquiry concluded its public hearings with Module 10, after 32 preliminary and 242 public hearing days involving … · Source
19 Mar 2026 Module 3 report p… The Inquiry published its report on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems in the four nations … · Source
16 Apr 2026 Module 4 report p… The Inquiry published its report on vaccines and therapeutics (Module 4). · Source
14 Jul 2026 Module 5 report p… The Inquiry published its report on procurement (Module 5). · Source

Recommendations

3 shown (filtered)
Clear
Code Recommendation Addressed to Response
COVID-M1.10
The UK government should, in consultation with the devolved administrations, create a statutory independent body for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience. …
 Cabinet Office Under Consideration View →
COVID-M2.7
The UK government should introduce legislation to place child rights impact assessments on a statutory footing in England. The Northern Ireland Executive …
 Cabinet Office Under Consideration View →
COVID-M2.9
The Northern Ireland Executive and UK government (in consultation with the Irish government where necessary) should review the structures and delegated powers …
 Northern Ireland Executive Under Consideration View →

Parliamentary activity

242 mentions since Jul 2020
9 debates 98 questions 36 statements
03 Jun 2026 Written Question Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Sir Christopher Chope (Conservative)
01 Jun 2026 Written Question Covid-19 Inquiry
Jess Asato (Labour)
20 May 2026 Written Ministerial Statement UK COVID-19 Inquiry response costs for Quarter 3 25/26
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour)
20 May 2026 Written Ministerial Statement UK COVID-19 Inquiry response costs for Quarter 3 25/26
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour)
19 May 2026 Written Question Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat)
View all 242 mentions →

Costs

Total: £213,708,000
Period Total Inquiry legal CP legal Source
Mar 2026 (cum.) £213,708,000 £67,344,000 £54,773,000 link
Sep 2025 £19,012,000 £10,892,000 £8,471,000 link
Mar 2025 £66,723,000 £18,704,000 £20,470,000 link
Mar 2024 £80,889,000 £20,453,000 £19,335,000 link
Mar 2023 £25,625,000 £9,210,000 £3,129,000 link