Oral Answers to Questions

Deidre Brock Excerpts

Thursday 27th May 2021 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

That is a very thoughtful point with which I completely agree.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP) [V]]

  I congratulate the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on being one of the few Ministers in the thick of things somehow to avoid being mentioned in Mr Cummings’ evidence to the Select Committees yesterday. Nevertheless, the “About us” section on the Cabinet Office website starts:“We support the Prime Minister and ensure the effective running of government.”Given what Mr Cummings said about the chaos at the heart of this Government, will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster commission an independent inquiry into the operation of the Cabinet Office during the pandemic?

[Michael Gove]

The broad public inquiry that we have set up—with, of course, consultation with the First Minister of Scotland—will, I hope, look at every aspect of our pandemic response. Although I did not hear all the evidence history, I understand that I was mentioned and the point was made that I got some things wrong. I have got lots of things wrong, but of course we will all reflect on those in due course.