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Eluned Morgan MS, First Minister

First published:
16 January 2025
Last updated:

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry published its first report The resilience and preparedness of the United Kingdom in July 2024. Module one of the inquiry considered whether the UK was properly prepared for the pandemic. 

The inquiry chair, the Rt Hon Baroness Hallett DBE, has made 10 key recommendations, aimed at the UK and devolved governments, after taking detail written and oral evidence during module one. The Welsh Government has worked with other UK governments over the last six months to carefully consider and progress these recommendations. I have today written to the chair with the Welsh Government’s response to her recommendations, which is available here.

The Welsh Government has already undertaken significant steps to learn from the pandemic in developing our approach to preparedness and response. These changes have been informed by a number of reviews, including the independent review of the Welsh Health Protection System and a review of civil contingencies. This, together with the module one recommendations, has informed changes to the Welsh preparedness arrangements. 

The inquiry’s module one report and recommendations is the first in a series, which will be published by the inquiry. My response to Baroness Hallett reaffirms the Welsh Government’s commitment to learning lessons from the pandemic and we continue to be actively involved in the UK inquiry, by providing witness statements, including oral evidence at its hearings, and documentary evidence to support its important work.

We are continuing to learn from this work; from the evidence provided by the expert witnesses to the inquiry and from those who were bereaved during the pandemic and those who continue to be impacted by it.