Covid-19 Pandemic: Government Response

Debate between Ben Spencer and William Wragg

Thursday 17th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wragg]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, but it would be for the inquiry to require that evidence if it was based on a statutory footing.

[Dr Ben Spencer (Runnymede and Weybridge) (Con)]

We have learned a lot about covid in the past nine months, and it is worth reflecting that this disease did not exist a year ago. One of the things that plagues inquiries—I have certainly seen this a lot in medicine, in terms of investigations—is the trap of hindsight bias. Of course, when we look back, there are things that we would do differently because we have learned so much in the past nine months. How can we ensure that the inquiry avoids using what we sometimes call the retrospectoscope?

[Mr Wragg]

I thank my hon. Friend. Being a qualified medic, he will share my disdain for any outbreak of “hindsightitis” in all this. I would emphasise that the summary of our report states that the primary purpose of the inquiry should be

“to learn lessons and to make recommendations about how similar events can be better handled in future.”