UK COVID-19 Inquiry
OngoingCOVID-19 Inquiry
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.
Live tracking hearings, witnesses and documents synced daily from the inquiry website
Open live tracker
Search evidence
4 years, 3 months
Duration (ongoing)
£213.7m
Total Cost
Parliamentary Activity 242 Click to expand
9 debates
98 questions
36 statements
since Jul 2020
03 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026
Written Ministerial Statement
UK COVID-19 Inquiry response costs for Quarter 3 25/26
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour)
20 May 2026
Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour)
Written Ministerial Statement
UK COVID-19 Inquiry response costs for Quarter 3 25/26
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour)
20 May 2026
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour)
19 May 2026
View all 242 mentions →
Reports (6) Click to expand
| 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 | |
| Module 5: Procurement | 5 | 14 Jul 2026 | 11 | |
| Every Story Matters | Listening Exercise | 30 Nov 2023 | 0 |
Timeline (15) Click to expand
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.
04 Oct 2022
Preliminary Hearing
First preliminary hearing held.
13 Jun 2023
Module 1 hearings open
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.
09 Sep 2024
Module 3: Healthcare
Module 3 examining impact on healthcare systems began.
20 Nov 2025
Module 2 report published
The Inquiry published its report on core UK decision-making and political governance (Modules 2, 2A, 2B and 2C).
Source
31 Dec 2025
Further Modules Planned
Modules on vaccines, care sector, and other topics planned through 2026.
05 Mar 2026
Hearings conclude
The Inquiry concluded its public hearings with Module 10, after 32 preliminary and 242 public hearing days involving 663 witnesses.
Source
19 Mar 2026
Module 3 report published
The Inquiry published its report on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems in the four nations (Module 3).
Source
16 Apr 2026
Module 4 report published
The Inquiry published its report on vaccines and therapeutics (Module 4).
Source
14 Jul 2026
Module 5 report published
The Inquiry published its report on procurement (Module 5).
SourceCosts Click to expand
Total Inquiry Cost (Cumulative)
£213,708,000
to Mar 2026
Financial Report to 31 March 2026 (Q4 2025-26)
Cost Breakdown (to Mar 2026)
Inquiry Legal Costs
£67,344,000
Panel remuneration & Counsel to the Inquiry
Core Participant Legal Costs
£54,773,000
Legal funding for core participants
Panel
£1,081,000
Staff
£32,535,000
Safeguarding
£15,584,000
Other
£42,391,000
Hearings concluded 5 March 2026 (end of Module 10). Figures exclude VAT. Most expensive UK inquiry ever. Chair £1.1m; Counsel & Solicitors £67.3m; Section 40 (CP legal) £54.8m; Secretariat £32.5m; Every Story Matters/engagement £15.6m; Modules £8.9m; Operational £29.5m; Other £3.9m.
Cost History
Recommendations (3)
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 available evidence indicates partial implementation through differing approaches. Scotland reported its action delivered and closed; the UK Government rejected the proposed statutory body and was still implementing an alternative scrutiny model.
- 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).
- The Scottish Government reported to the Inquiry chair that its action on this recommendation had been delivered and closed; the UK Government had adopted an alternative approach and still recorded its work as in progress (Module 1 Progress Update, Scottish Government, 16 July 2026).
- 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).
- The Scottish Government reported to the Inquiry chair that its action on this recommendation had been delivered and closed; the UK Government had adopted an alternative approach and still recorded its work as in progress (Module 1 Progress Update, Scottish Government, 16 July 2026).
Cabinet Office
(Primary)
View Details
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.
- 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
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.
- 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)
View Details