Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic following the publication by the Government of the United States on 25 January of the CIA’s analysis that the SARS-COV2 virus most likely originated in a laboratory.

We recognise that there are questions that need to be answered about the origin and spread of COVID-19 to ensure that we can better prevent and prepare for future pandemics. The United Kingdom continues to support the World Health Organization in its ongoing expert study of the origins of COVID-19 and seeks a robust, transparent, and science-led review. This study remains open to testing all hypotheses that they deem reasonable. The Government has noted the Central Intelligence Agency’s assessment and will continually review our own assessment of the origins of the virus, considering any new intelligence. We will update the House of Commons and the House of Lords as and when there is anything new to say.