Oral Answers to Questions

Kate Osamor Excerpts

Thursday 31st March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. That is a very weak link. Sir Christopher is usually better than that. I think that is a poor effort from him. Let us move on to Kate Osamor.

[Kate Osamor (Edmonton) (Lab/Co-op)]

5. For what reason the public inquiry into the covid-19 pandemic will not hold public evidence hearings until 2023.

[The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Michael Ellis)]

The timing of the statutory inquiry’s various stages is, under the Inquiries Act 2005, a matter for its independent chair to determine.

[Kate Osamor]

Many bereaved families and campaigners are anxious to hear the truth about the Government’s handling of the pandemic in a public inquiry. Meanwhile, the Government have admitted that none of the Prime Minister’s mobile phone messages up until April 2021 will be accessible to the inquiry, because he got a new phone. In the light of that, will the Minister confirm a date when the public hearings will be formally established?

[Michael Ellis]

What the Government are doing is following the statutory provisions of the Inquiries Act 2005, which, as the hon. Lady will recall, was passed by a Labour Government. The Act says that it is up to the inquiry chair, in this case Baroness Heather Hallett. She is a leading figure and is dealing with the matter, and it will be for her to determine dates.