Appendix 1: The background to this module and the Inquiry's methodology

Background

¶A1.1. The Right Honourable Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister from July 2019 to September 2022, formally established the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in June 2022 to examine the preparations for and response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK and to learn lessons for the future. In December 2021, he had appointed The Right Honourable the Baroness Hallett DBE, a retired judge of the Court of Appeal, as its Chair.

¶A1.2. On 28 June 2022, the Prime Minister issued the final Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, establishing it under the Inquiries Act 2005.¹¹ See 'Covid-19 Inquiry Terms of Reference', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, 20 July 2022 (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/documents/ terms-of-reference), which includes translations of the Inquiry's Terms of Reference; Inquiries Act 2005 (https://www.legislation.gov. uk/ukpga/2005/12/contents). A separate Inquiry is taking place in Scotland, which will evaluate areas where policy was devolved to the Scottish Government, as set out in its Terms of Reference. The UK Inquiry works with the Scottish Inquiry to avoid duplication of work where possible.Show full note The Inquiry formally opened on 21 July 2022 to:

" examine, consider and report on preparations and the response to the pandemic in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, up to and including the Inquiry's formal setting-up date, 28 June 2022".²² 'Covid-19 Inquiry Terms of Reference', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, 20 July 2022 (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/documents/terms-of-reference)

¶A1.3. To ensure a full and focused examination of the wide range of issues covered in the Terms of Reference and to produce regular reports, the Inquiry's investigation has been divided into sections or 'modules'. Each module gathers evidence, designates Core Participants and has both preliminary hearings (at which decisions about the procedure for the conduct of the Inquiry's investigations and public hearings are made) and full public hearings where evidence is heard. Details of public hearings are published by the Inquiry.³³ See 'Structure of the Inquiry', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/structure-of-the-inquiry) for further information.

¶A1.4. The Inquiry's Module 1, which considered the UK's resilience and preparedness, published its Report in July 2024.⁴⁴ Module 1: The resilience and preparedness of the United Kingdom, UK Covid-19 Inquiry, July 2024 (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/documents/module-1-full-report) This combined Module 2 Report relates to the UK's core political and administrative decision-making in response to Covid-19 – Modules 2, 2A, 2B and 2C of the Inquiry.

¶A1.5. The Inquiry's currently active modules are as follows:

Module 3: Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in the four nations of the UK⁵⁵ 'Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in the 4 nations of the UK (Module 3)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/impact-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-healthcare-systems-in-the-4-nations-of-the-uk)

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Module 4: Vaccines and therapeutics⁶⁶ 'Vaccines and therapeutics (Module 4)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/vaccines-and- therapeutics-module-4)
Module 5: Procurement⁷⁷ 'Procurement (Module 5)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/procurement-module-5)
Module 6: Care sector⁸⁸ 'Care sector (Module 6)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/care-sector-module-6)
Module 7: Test, trace and isolate⁹⁹ 'Test, trace and isolate (Module 7)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/test-trace-and-isolate-module-7)
Module 8: Children and young people¹⁰¹⁰ 'Children and young people (Module 8)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/children-and-young-people-module-8)
Module 9: Economic response¹¹¹¹ 'Economic response (Module 9)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/economic-response-module-9)
Module 10: Impact on society¹²¹² 'Impact on society (Module 10)', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/modules/impact-on-society- module-10)

¶A1.6. As set out in the Terms of Reference, the Inquiry regards it as critical to its work to listen to and consider carefully the experiences of bereaved families and others who have suffered hardship or loss as a result of the pandemic. The Inquiry is doing this in a number of different ways, including through its listening exercise, Every Story Matters.¹³¹³ 'Every Story Matters', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, no date (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/every-story-matters) Those aged 18 or older are invited to share as much or as little information as they feel able, without the formality of giving evidence or attending a public hearing. The sharing of these experiences is helping the Inquiry to understand events and their impact and aids the development of recommendations that could reduce suffering in the future. Experiences shared with the Inquiry are being analysed and reports are being produced highlighting the themes that emerge. The Inquiry is also undertaking a bespoke and targeted research project, hearing directly from some of the children and young people most affected by the pandemic, to help inform its findings and recommendations.¹⁴¹⁴ See 'Hundreds of children and young people set to tell the Inquiry how the pandemic affected them', UK Covid-19 Inquiry, 15 April 2024 (https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/news/hundreds-of-children-and-young-people-set-to-tell-the-inquiry-how-the-pandemic- affected-them) for further information.

¶A1.7. A public inquiry is established to examine the facts and to find out exactly what happened. It is an inquisitorial, not an adversarial, process. This Report's conclusions and recommendations are based on an objective assessment of the totality of the evidence received by the Inquiry.