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Gaps in Wales' Covid response, says committee

Rhodri Lewis
BBC News
Getty Images A man wears a face mask with a Welsh flag on it, on Queen Street on December 29, 2021 in Cardiff, Wales. He has silver short short and looks away from the camera. Getty Images
A Senedd committee has found nine gaps in the UK-wide Covid inquiry which require further exploration

There were gaps in Wales' response to the Covid pandemic, a Senedd committee has said.

The cross-party committee said it identified nine gaps in the UK-wide Covid inquiry which require further examination into how the Welsh government and other public bodies responded.

From the findings, the committee wants to look into how the best resilience and preparedness model for Wales can be designed.

The report will be debated in the Senedd next month, when MSs will be asked to approve a further inquiry.

It is the first report from the Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee since it was set up in May 2023, with the remit to find gaps in the ongoing Covid inquiry that need to be examined in more detail in Wales.

The initial UK Covid inquiry report was published in July 2024 and the Welsh government gave its response in January.

While the Senedd committee took that response into consideration, it had gathered evidence to establish if there were any gaps, and engaged experts from Nottingham Trent University to assist.

The gaps are:

  • To review the most effective resilience and preparedness model for Wales
  • To learn how civil contingency roles can be clarified and accountability improved
  • Review the ways data access and sharing occurred
  • Consider the effectiveness of communication of policy and guidance to the public
  • Look at civil contingencies across borders, where responsibilities were shared, unclear or complex
  • Review how leading resilience processes can be shared in Wales
  • Review how societal inequalities could be incorporated into the preparedness and resilience structures
  • Review the benefits of a Wales-specific approach to strengthen resilience systems
  • Consider the best way for Wales implement the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 report recommendations
Getty Images A close-up of a sign at the entrance to the Covid-19 inquiry at the Mercure Cardiff North Hotel on 27 February 27, 2024 in Cardiff, Wales. The sign is blue with white font and reads: UK Covid-19 Inquiry hearing centre. Getty Images
The report will be put to the Senedd for approval next week

Co-chairs of the special purpose committee, Tom Giffard MS and Joyce Watson MS, said the pandemic was a "painful and traumatic experience for many in Wales".

In a statement, they said: "We are extremely grateful for the insights and experiences shared by everyone who assisted us with our work, including our public consultation and stakeholder event.

"We have detailed our conclusions and highlighted each area we believe requires further examination."

The Senedd will be asked to approve this further inquiry on 2 April.

If agreed, the committee will then begin work on Wales-specific scrutiny beyond the hearings already done by the UK-wide Inquiry.