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UK COVID-19 Inquiry

Ongoing

COVID-19 Inquiry

Chair Baroness Heather Hallett Judge / Judiciary
Established 28 Apr 2022
Commissioned by Cabinet Office Commissioned by the Prime Minister

Public inquiry examining the UK's response to and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and learning lessons for the future. The inquiry is examining preparedness, decision-making, health and social care, vaccines, and the impact on different communities.

3 years, 11 months Duration (ongoing)
£192m Total Cost
Inquiry Website Official Statement Terms of Reference
Government Response
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 3
Under Review 18
Awaiting Response 12
Total Recommendations 39
Data last updated: 19 Mar 2026
Data verified: 23 Mar 2026 (import)
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

9 debates 104 questions 22 statements since Jul 2020
Written Ministerial Statement UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 3 Report
Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour)
19 Mar 2026
Written Ministerial Statement UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 3 Report
Sir Keir Starmer (Labour)
19 Mar 2026
Written Question Covid-19 Inquiry
Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour)
05 Mar 2026
Early Day Motion Covid Day of Reflection 2026
Josh Babarinde (Liberal Democrat)
02 Mar 2026
Written Question Mental Health: Children
Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour)
24 Feb 2026
View all 234 mentions →
All Activity (234)
Title Volume Publication Date Recs Links
Module 1: Resilience and Preparedness 1 18 Jul 2024 10
Module 2: Core Decision-Making 2 20 Nov 2025 19
Module 3: Impact on Healthcare Systems 3 19 Mar 2026 10
Every Story Matters Listening Exercise 30 Nov 2023 0
12 May 2021
Inquiry Announced

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a statutory public inquiry.

Source
15 Dec 2021
Chair Appointed

Baroness Hallett appointed as Chair.

28 Jun 2022
Terms of Reference Set

Terms of Reference finalised after consultation.

Source
04 Oct 2022
Preliminary Hearing

First preliminary hearing held.

13 Jun 2023
Module 1 Hearings Begin

Module 1 examining preparedness and resilience began.

03 Oct 2023
Module 2 Hearings

Module 2 examining core UK decision-making.

15 Jan 2024
Module 2 Devolved Nations

Hearings examining Scottish, Welsh and NI decision-making.

18 Jul 2024
Module 1 Report Published

First report on pandemic preparedness published.

Source
09 Sep 2024
Module 3: Healthcare

Module 3 examining impact on healthcare systems began.

31 Dec 2025
Further Modules Planned

Modules on vaccines, care sector, and other topics planned through 2026.

Total Inquiry Cost (Cumulative) £192,035,000
to Sep 2025 Cumulative Total to September 2025
Cost Breakdown (to Sep 2025)
Inquiry Legal Costs £59,430,000 Panel remuneration & Counsel to the Inquiry
Core Participant Legal Costs £51,405,000 Legal funding for core participants
Panel £835,000
Staff £27,758,000
Other £52,607,000
Cumulative figures from FY25-26 Q2 report. Staff costs = Inquiry Secretariat only (Permanent/Contingent staff tracked separately in some years but not in cumulative). Other includes: Every Story Matters, Modules, Operational and Cross-cutting, and miscellaneous.
Cost History
Period Total Inquiry Legal CP Legal Source
Sep 2025 £19,012,000 £10,892,000 £8,471,000
Sep 2025 (cum.) £192,035,000 £59,430,000 £51,405,000
Mar 2025 £66,723,000 £18,704,000 £20,470,000
Mar 2024 £80,889,000 £20,453,000 £19,335,000
Mar 2023 £25,625,000 £9,210,000 £3,129,000
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