The draft mandate for the UK public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has been released.
It will look at preparedness, public health response, health and care sector response and economic response, the Cabinet Office said.
The probe will play a key role in “learning lessons” from the pandemic and for the future, it said.
The investigation is scheduled to begin in the spring.
The terms of reference were released after consultation with Inquiry Chair and former High Court Justice Baroness Hallett and ministers in the devolved nations.
The Scottish Government has already published terms of reference for its own Covid-19 inquiry, which is to be led by Judge Lady Poole.
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In the UK, more than 162,000 people have died in 28 days since the pandemic began in early 2020 after testing positive for coronavirus.
The Cabinet Office said the UK inquiry would “reflect the importance of understanding the experiences of those most affected by the pandemic,” such as survivors, and examine any “differences” in the impact of the pandemic and the government’s response.
It said there would now be another public consultation of around four weeks, chaired by Baroness Hallett, to consider any changes to the terms before they are final.
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