Covid-19 Inquiry

Lord Winston Excerpts

Thursday 23rd January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend Lord Livermore is here, so I am sure he heard the noble Lord’s point about the spending review. I will feed the noble Lord’s comments in.

In relation to data and future research, the Government agree with the inquiry that data and research are crucial to preparing for and responding to future pandemics. Clearly, it is a matter of when, not if. We have made significant progress on identifying the data across government. The National Situation Centre was established in 2021 and provides situational awareness for crisis response. As a resilience geek, I think that is a fascinating development that has contributed quite a lot. I note the noble Baroness’s previous role in it.

The UKHSA continues to develop and optimise data surveillance capabilities to keep ahead of the next threats across all population groups, society and public services, locally and globally. That is something on which we agree with the inquiry’s recommendation, and we hope the noble Lord will recognise that delivery has already started. I am happy to pick up any additional points with him directly.

[Lord Winston (Lab)]

My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, pointedly raised the issue of mental health and the response to it in this report. The report emphasises the need for more research and better data collection, as well as development. I wonder whether the noble Baroness is aware that perhaps the most important cognitive science going on in this country is in the medical research units, which are few in number, with several hundred specialised scientists—among the best in the world, including Nobel Prize winners—who currently are concerned that their budget is being not increased but reduced. There is a serious risk that we will lose those staff, who are the best in the world. If we are to improve mental health, it is important to understand the phenotype as well as the basic causes of these conditions. They are too important to be ignored any longer.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend makes an important point. This Government are taking the Mental Health Bill through your Lordships’ House at the moment. I will come back to him with a specific response on the points he raises.

Going back to my previous answer on future modules, I think that some of the issues around mental health and its importance in how we approach any future pandemic, and measures we might take, will continue to emerge through the inquiry’s hearings.