Last week, I submitted the revised Terms of Reference for the Covid Inquiry to the Government for their consideration. These Terms of Reference prioritise the needs of the bereaved families and have only been made possible by the unwavering dedication of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group to seek the justice their loved ones so rightfully deserve.
The Government presently stand by their promise to start the Covid Inquiry this Spring, but this isn’t soon enough. The Covid Inquiry must start now. We have submitted our proposed Terms of Reference, and now we are calling on the Government to review them and provide their feedback urgently so that we can get this Inquiry started as soon as possible, and ensure no further lives are lost unnecessarily.
PM appoints Baroness Heather Hallett as Covid Inquiry Chair. Read more.
What are Terms of Reference?
The Terms of Reference play a key role in the Inquiry as they are what determines the Inquiry’s scope. The Terms of Reference are to be set by the Prime Minister who has said that in this case he will consult with the Chair. The Terms of Reference can also be updated throughout the course of the Inquiry, meaning they can be amended (only by the Prime Minister) to include any future failings.
There has been some concern around whether it is fair that the Prime Minister (as Minister of the Inquiry) decides the Terms of Reference. While this is far from ideal, we hope that the Chair will do her best to ensure that the scope is appropriate and we have been assured by the Government that we and others will be consulted on the Terms of Reference before they are approved.
Read more about the Terms of Reference
What happens next?
Now, we wait for the Government to issue their proposed Terms of Reference and we will offer feedback. In the meantime, we will continue to do everything we can in preparation for the Inquiry and will continue to campaign for the start date to be brought forward. We are expecting the consultative process to start soon now that the Chair has been appointed.
If you’ve lost a loved one to Covid, it isn’t too late to join the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group and be part of this Inquiry. We are fighting for core participation status and striving to ensure that the bereaved families will be at the heart of this Inquiry, where they belong. Find out more about the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group.
Visit our Covid Inquiry FAQ page for answers to some of our commonly asked questions surrounding the Inquiry, next steps, how to instruct legal representation and more.