The Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee (PAPAC), Chaired by North Wales MS Mark Isherwood, is set to take over the work of the soon to be disbanded Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee.
The Committee was established by the Senedd to look at reports at each stage of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry and propose to the Senedd by motion, any gaps identified in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic that should be subject to further examination.
However, it is set to be dissolved in the Autumn and the work will be taken on by PAPAC.
Speaking in yesterday’s Debate on ‘the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee Report: Inquiry Module 1’, Mr Isherwood expressed concerns about the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee’s capacity to undertake this work and the limited time left in this Senedd term, with an election on the horizon in May 2026.
However, he said: “We have agreed to take on the task that has been asked of us to ensure that some scrutiny of these important matters is done within this Senedd – rather than none.”
He said:
“I have followed the work of the Special Purpose Committee with interest given the important task it was given: to consider reports of the UK Covid Inquiry and to identify gaps in the preparedness and response of the Welsh Government and other Welsh public bodies during the pandemic.
“I am not here today to speak about the approach taken in Wales and the decision by the Welsh Government to not establish a Wales Specific Public Inquiry into the pandemic, but I am instead speaking as Chair of the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, which has been asked to consider whether it would have the capacity to: lead the scrutiny of gaps identified by the Covid Committee in relation to the UK Inquiry Module 1 report; and lead scrutiny of the Module 2 report, to include sub section 2b in relation to Wales.
“As a Committee, we carefully considered this request, acknowledging that in the short-term, given the limited time left within this Senedd Term, we are likely to only be able to consider Module 1, given that the Module 2 report has not yet been published. However, if the Module 2 report is published in time, we would envisage having a very limited number of sessions on this in 2026 before Senedd dissolution, for reference in our Legacy Report.
“We were also concerned about our capacity to undertake this work as we wish to proceed with our usual and important Public Accounts and Public Administration work.
“However, we have agreed to take on the task that has been asked of us, to ensure that some scrutiny of these important matters is carried out within this Senedd, rather than none.”
He added:
“We will seek to engage with as many stakeholders as possible and build on the work already undertaken by the Covid Committee and the matters identified in their report.
“We would also wish to take evidence from the First Minister, in a formal evidence session, given her responsibility for matters relating to civil contingencies.
“We may not be best placed to pursue this work and we cannot be sure that any outcome will be sufficiently comprehensive to satisfactorily address the issues arising from the Module 1 report, rather than through a Wales-Specific Public Inquiry.
“Further, we can be sure that any outcome will not be sufficiently comprehensive to satisfactorily address the issues arising from the Module 2 report.
“However, we will do our best to conduct this work as effectively as we can within these constraints.”