Parliament
280 mentions of the inquiry in Parliament: debates, written questions and statements, oral questions and early day motions, from Hansard.
Covid-19 testing and school exams
That this House recognises the impact of the covid-19 outbreak on pupil and staff absences; believes there is potential for further disruption in the coming weeks; commends the tireless work of school leaders, teachers and support staff to ensure schools are as safe as possible for the exam season; yet notes that schools have been informed by the Department for Education that stocks of lateral flow tests are not to be distributed; calls on the Government to immediately communicate to schools ...
Bluevale Community Club
That this House thanks everyone involved in Bluevale Community Club based in the communities of Dennistoun and Haghill in the East End of Glasgow; recognises that the club was formed by two local residents and has developed in a very short period of time from being a boxing club to a fully fledged community organisation; understands that the covid-19 pandemic gave the club the impetus to start providing mental and physical health support along with food programmes for people of all ages leavi...
Covid-19 Inquiry
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has instructed his Department to preserve evidence for the inquiry into the Government's handling of the covid-19 outbreak.
The Department is undertaking the appropriate preparatory work ahead of the final Terms of Reference for the Inquiry being announced.
Well-established records management processes are in place across Government and all Departments are aware of the need to keep a full and clear record of their part in events. This includes the decisions they take, the process by which those decisions were reached, the reasons for those decisions and the evidence and data used to support them.
Read full answer →The Boys' Brigade
That this House commends The Boys’ Brigade on how it has adapted to challenging circumstances over the last two years and has continued to provide much needed opportunities for thousands of children and young people in communities across the UK to learn, grow and discover during the covid-19 pandemic; notes that in March 2020, for the first time in its history, the organisation had to suspend its face-to-face activities, and responded by launching a new weekly digital programme of activities ...
Soup to Go
That this House congratulates Soup to Go on celebrating its 1st Birthday since rebranding from Broth and Blather at the Stratcherrick Hall; recognises the incredible work that the team has done to provide free lunches to those in need across the community throughout the covid-19 pandemic and the continuation of the hard work post-pandemic; and commends the fundraising efforts put in place following the end of funding and the commitment from the whole team to continue to give back.
WaveLength
That this House recognises the issue of digital inequality and data poverty in the UK due to the lack of access to basic broadband; acknowledges that this lack of access to broadband perpetuates the level of loneliness in citizens all across the UK; appreciates the work that the organization WaveLength has done over the last 80 years to combat loneliness within the UK through the provision of technology; understands that the efforts of WaveLength are needed now more than ever after the covid-...
Covid-19 Inquiry: Barristers
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the process is for the selection of counsel for the forthcoming public inquiry into the covid-19 pandemic.
Under the Inquiries Rules 2006, the appointment of Counsel to the Inquiry is a matter for an inquiry’s independent chair.
Baroness Hallett, the chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry, has appointed Hugo Keith QC as Lead Counsel to the Inquiry.
Information as to fees paid to inquiry counsel is not held centrally. Statutory inquiries publish information on their expenditure on their own independent websites.
Read full answer →Going for Growth aerospace strategy
That this House notes the importance to the UK economy of the aerospace sector, which has an annual turnover of £33.9 billion and is the world’s second-largest aerospace industry, employing more than 14,000 people directly in high-skilled, well-paid jobs and four times that number in the supply chain; further notes that the covid-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on the aerospace and shipbuilding industries, with an estimated 20,000 jobs and thousands of apprenticeships lost since the...
Public Inquiries: Barristers
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government has paid in fees to all counsel to public inquiries in each of the last ten years.
Under the Inquiries Rules 2006, the appointment of Counsel to the Inquiry is a matter for an inquiry’s independent chair.
Baroness Hallett, the chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry, has appointed Hugo Keith QC as Lead Counsel to the Inquiry.
Information as to fees paid to inquiry counsel is not held centrally. Statutory inquiries publish information on their expenditure on their own independent websites.
Read full answer →Public Inquiries: Barristers
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will confirm the process by which counsel to public inquiries are selected.
Under the Inquiries Rules 2006, the appointment of Counsel to the Inquiry is a matter for an inquiry’s independent chair.
Baroness Hallett, the chair of the Covid-19 Inquiry, has appointed Hugo Keith QC as Lead Counsel to the Inquiry.
Information as to fees paid to inquiry counsel is not held centrally. Statutory inquiries publish information on their expenditure on their own independent websites.
Read full answer →The Morrison Family and Craigneuk Post Office
That this House recognises the work of the Morrison family who have operated Craigneuk Post Office since 1982; commends the outstanding work of Christine Morrison who served as postmistress and who would always go that extra mile for her customers, from 1982 until her death in 2010; further commends the continued outstanding work of her son Scott who took over the Post Office as postmaster in 2010; acknowledges the vital work that Scott has done to operate this community hub particularly over...
Terumo closure Knowsley
That this house notes with great regret Terumo Europe’s announcement that they intend to transfer their medical technology production facility in Knowsley to Costa Rica, with a loss of 110 jobs; further regrets the company’s failure to agree a redundancy package that, although in excess of the statutory minimum legal requirement, would mean that those on lowest pay would still not receive fair recognition of their contribution, particularly during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic and, more...
Covid-19 Inquiry
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the covid-19 inquiry will not hold public evidence hearings until 2023.
The timing of a statutory inquiry’s various stages are, under the Inquiries Act 2005, a matter for its independent chair to determine.
Read full answer →Access to telemedical abortion care beyond September 2022
That this House is dismayed by Government plans to end the availability of telemedical abortion care services for early medical abortions up to 9 weeks and 6 days gestation, beyond September 2022; notes that access to this temporary service during the covid-19 lockdowns was crucial to ensuring that women needed an abortion were still able to access vital women’s health services; further notes that the availability of at-home abortion pills has halved women’s waiting times for abortion service...
War on Want's report on McDonald's tax affairs
That this House is disturbed by the findings of the Secrets and Fries report published on 17 March 2022 by War on Want, which exposes a circular, paper transaction by McDonald’s which it alleges has the primary purpose of reducing McDonald’s tax obligations by creating a UK tax shelter for its global franchise income; notes that report further alleges that mechanism could be depriving the UK exchequer of at least £295 million in public funds over ten years without having any corresponding eco...
VAT on petrol and diesel
That this House observes with concern the ongoing increase in fuel prices across Scotland and the UK, with the cost of petrol and diesel in the UK hitting an all-time high; notes that the Government announced at the recent Autumn Budget that fuel duty rates will remain frozen at 57.95 pence per litre; highlights that drivers are charged a further 20 per cent in Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel including fuel duty, resulting in drivers effectively being double-taxed, with increased t...
Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions
That this House congratulates Lancaster District Community and Voluntary Solutions on securing funding to continue its important work building and supporting communities across the Lancaster District; notes the crucial support that the charity offers to over 500 individuals and organisations in offering financial planning, training and capacity building for charities and voluntary sector leaders; welcomes the development of the Lancaster District Volunteer Centre which seeks to build resilien...
Covid-19 Inquiry
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the inquiry into the Government's handling of the covid-19 pandemic has not started.
The Prime Minister has appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE to chair the public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and will begin its work in Spring 2022.
Draft terms of reference will be published in due course, following consultation with Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations. As set out in the Prime Minister’s statement on 15 December, Baroness Hallett will then lead a process of public consultation, including with bereaved families and other affected groups, before the terms of reference are finalised.
Read full answer →Covid-19 Inquiry
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the draft terms of reference for the covid-19 public inquiry will be published.
The Prime Minister has appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE to chair the public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and will begin its work in Spring 2022.
Draft terms of reference will be published in due course, following consultation with Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations. As set out in the Prime Minister’s statement on 15 December, Baroness Hallett will then lead a process of public consultation, including with bereaved families and other affected groups, before the terms of reference are finalised.
Read full answer →Covid-19 Inquiry
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the covid-19 public inquiry will formally commence.
The Prime Minister has appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE to chair the public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and will begin its work in Spring 2022.
Draft terms of reference will be published in due course, following consultation with Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations. As set out in the Prime Minister’s statement on 15 December, Baroness Hallett will then lead a process of public consultation, including with bereaved families and other affected groups, before the terms of reference are finalised.
Read full answer →Covid-19 Inquiry
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to consult relevant stakeholders on the criteria for the Terms of Reference for the Covid-19 Public Inquiry; who was consulted; and when he plans to publish the Terms of Reference.
On 12 May 2021, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into Covid-19 will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and that it will begin its work in Spring 2022.
The Prime Minister has appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett as the chair of the inquiry. Draft terms of reference will be published in due course, following consultation with Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations.
As set out in the Prime Minister’s statement on 15 December, Baroness Hallett will then lead the public consultation, including with bereaved families and other affected groups, before the terms of reference are finalised.
Read full answer →Coronavirus: Public Inquiries
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the publication of the timetable for the covid-19 inquiry.
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 will be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022. The Prime Minister has committed to appointing an independent chair by the end of the year.
Read full answer →Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to include representatives from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group in the membership of the inquiry commission into the response to the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed the public inquiry into COVID-19 will begin in Spring 2022. The Government recognises that it must engage and consult with bereaved families and others, before the terms of reference are finalised. The terms of reference will set out the purpose and structure of the Covid-19 inquiry, including the exact areas that will be investigated.
The Government is aware of Bereaved Families for Justice’ call to be represented during the COVID-19 Inquiry. Throughout the pandemic senior ministers, including the Prime Minister, have met and will continue to meet with bereaved families.
We also recognise the need for bereaved families to be represented on the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. The Commission will carefully consider how communities across the country can remember those who have lost their lives and recognise those involved in the response in a fitting and permanent way. I want to thank the Bereaved Families for Justice group for all their efforts in representing bereaved families throughout the pandemic.
Read full answer →Covid-19 Inquiry
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister is responsible for the covid-19 public inquiry.
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022.Further details will be set out in due course.
Read full answer →Coronavirus: Public Inquiries
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will include an analysis of the median age and rate of cancer mortality compared to covid-19 mortality in the upcoming covid-19 inquiry.
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed to this House that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022. Further details - including in respect of the inquiry’s terms of reference - will be set out in due course.
Read full answer →