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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.

4 years, 1 month Duration (ongoing)
£192m Total Cost
Inquiry Website Official Statement Terms of Reference
Government Response
Accepted 19
Accepted in Part 5
Under Review 3
Awaiting Response 15
Not Applicable 2
Total Recommendations 44
Data last updated: 16 Apr 2026
Data verified: 26 May 2026 (import)
How to read this

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

Full methodology

9 debates 110 questions 36 statements since Jul 2020
Written Ministerial Statement UK COVID-19 Inquiry response costs for Quarter 3 25/26
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour)
20 May 2026
Written Ministerial Statement UK COVID-19 Inquiry response costs for Quarter 3 25/26
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour)
20 May 2026
Written Question Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat)
19 May 2026
Written Ministerial Statement UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 4 Report
Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour)
16 Apr 2026
Written Ministerial Statement UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 4 Report
Sir Keir Starmer (Labour)
16 Apr 2026
View all 254 mentions →
All Activity (254)
Title Volume Publication Date Tracked 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
Module 4: Vaccines and Therapeutics 4 16 Apr 2026 5
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
Clear

Recommendations (3)

COVID-M1.10
Under Consideration
Independent Statutory Resilience Body
Recommendation
The UK government should, in consultation with the devolved administrations, create a statutory independent body for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience. The new body should be given responsibility for: providing independent, strategic advice to the UK government and devolved … Read more
Published evidence summary
- The government rejected the creation of a new statutory independent body as recommended, instead proposing an alternative approach through strengthened existing advisory mechanisms (UK Government Response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 Report, Cabinet Office, 16 January 2025).
- The government stated it "will always remain responsible and accountable for policy and resource allocation" and determined an independent statutory body was unnecessary given existing expert advisory structures (UK Government Response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 Report, Cabinet Office, 16 January 2025).
- As an alternative, the UK Resilience Academy will convene expert panels chaired by external figures to scrutinise whole-system risk preparedness, with findings to be published alongside government responses (Module 1 Implementation Update, Cabinet Office, 8 July 2025).
- The July 2025 implementation update marked this recommendation as IN PROGRESS, with a pilot process running in the second half of 2025 and panel operations commencing from April 2026 (Module 1 Implementation Update, Cabinet Office, 8 July 2025).
Cabinet Office (Primary)
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COVID-M2.7
Under Consideration
Statutory Child Rights Impact Assessments
Recommendation

The UK government should introduce legislation to place child rights impact assessments on a statutory footing in England. The Northern Ireland Executive should consider an equivalent provision.

Published evidence summary
- The UK government stated in its Module 2 response (25 March 2026) that it does not intend to introduce legislation to make child rights impact assessments (CRIAs) a statutory requirement at this time (UK Government Response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 Report, CP 1534, 25 March 2026).
- The response states the government considers that mandating CRIAs risks making them a 'mechanical recitation of points' rather than a meaningful tool.
- The government indicated it will consider findings from the Module 8 report (on children and young people) when published.
- The Department for Education is working with Cabinet Office to incorporate children's interests into crisis planning.
Cabinet Office (Primary)
View Details
COVID-M2.9
Under Consideration
NI Emergency Powers Review
Recommendation
The Northern Ireland Executive and UK government (in consultation with the Irish government where necessary) should review the structures and delegated powers of government in Northern Ireland to consider: the empowerment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister jointly … Read more
Published evidence summary
- This recommendation is primarily addressed to the Northern Ireland Executive and UK government jointly.
- The UK government stated in its Module 2 response (25 March 2026) that it believes the Northern Ireland Executive and parties should consider how necessary changes should be made (UK Government Response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 Report, CP 1534, 25 March 2026).
- The response notes the Assembly and Executive Review Committee is currently considering whether the institutions require wider reform.
- The UK government stated it will stand ready to discuss proposals for changes to the Strand One institutions.
- No specific legislative or structural changes have been announced.
Northern Ireland Executive (Primary)
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