Covid Inquiries Response Engagement Group (CIREG) minutes: January 2026

Attendees and apologies

Chair

Katherine Peskett, Co-Director for Covid Inquiries Response

Members and guests

CEMVO Scotland

• Mona Awan
• Francesca Malila
• Dr Gwenetta Curry, University of Edinburgh

Inclusion Scotland

• Heather Fisken
• Maia Pace
• Wendy Osmond, Captioner

LGBT Health and Wellbeing

• Michelle Davitt

Scottish Covid Bereaved

• Rhona Arthur
• Cathy Mitchell
• Maggie Waterton
• Alan Wightman

The Poverty Alliance

• Gary Christie
• Isla McIntosh

Transparency International (UK)

• Juliet Swann
• Professor Paul Cairney, Stirling University

Secretariat

• Dean Kowalski, Covid Inquiries Response Directorate
• Fiona Mackay, Covid Inquiries Response Directorate
• Michael Miller, Covid Inquiries Response Directorate
• Nicole Murphy, Covid Inquiries Response Directorate

Items and actions

Welcome and outline

The chair welcomed all participants and thanked them for their time, expertise and challenge. The format of the meeting was explained.

Discussion groups 

Two parallel discussion groups focussed on the following themes as agreed by CIREG group members.  Policy officials attended as set out in Annex A. 

Theme 1. scientific and expert advice

• recommendation 2: Attendance of the devolved administrations at SAGE
• recommendation 3: Register of experts
• recommendation 4: Publication of Scientific Advice
• recommendation 5: Support to participants in advisory groups  

Theme 2. communications and digital access

• recommendation 14: Plans for accessible communications
• recommendation 17: A central repository for restrictions and guidance

Theme 3A. vulnerabilities and decision making

• recommendation 8: A framework for considering those at risk in an emergency (including care home residents)
• recommendation 10: Civil emergency decision-making structures
• recommendation 12: Taskforces

Theme 3B. transparency and scrutiny in decision making

• recommendation 15: Scrutiny of emergency powers

Summary of key points

The facilitators shared the following top three insights for each theme, as agreed by the policy leads and attendees at the end of each session.

Scientific and expert advice

Group 1

• the Scottish experience and context—especially rurality—should be included from the outset in scientific advice structures
• emergency structures should avoid defaulting to perspectives based on England’s context and ensure equitable consideration across all nations
• transparency remains a core requirement for public trust and effective engagement

Group 2

• transparency is needed on how decisions are made in terms of process and how the evidence available is used
• advisory structures should work with stakeholders to ensure diversity of voices, experience and locations
• simple communication should be tailored to different audiences and/or using trusted local voices.

Communications and digital access

Group 1

• improve how we prepare people in advance of a crisis, ensuring information is readily accessible
• strengthen collaboration with well‑supported partners to reach priority groups
• develop stronger approaches to identifying and addressing false information

Group 2

• make better use of community, faith, ethnic minority, charity, third sector groups that specialise in working with specific audiences to learn how we can communicate effectively with these audiences
• embed these approaches now, rather than waiting for another pandemic or crisis - including developing a crisis‑ready directory of key contacts, phone numbers and web links, and clear signposting to this information
• recognise that trust in government affects how people receive and interpret public information and consider how best to counter mis‑ and disinformation

Vulnerabilities and decision making  (Group 1)

• strengthen data quality and improve access to the necessary data
• have the right expertise involved to interpret and contextualise that data
• ensure data and insights are fully integrated into decision‑making structures

Transparency and scrutiny in decision making (Group 2)

• articulate clearly what learning has happened since the pandemic and what safeguards will be in place for the next emergency
• scrutiny is not just about Parliament, there should be routes to strengthen input from stakeholders and a stronger role for EQIA
• duilding trust requires clear lines of democratic accountability and feedback on how scrutiny has impact on the actions taken. Consultation must lead to an end product which recognises the input given

Conclusion

The Chair thanked the participants for their engagement and contributions and confirmed invites will be sent for the next meeting of the Covid Inquiries Response Engagement Group on 18 February.

Policy officials (annex a)

Theme 1. Scientific and expert advice

• Doreen Grove, Open Government
• Jo Ward, Science Advice and Engagement Team

Theme 2. Communications and digital access

• Victoria Lopez, Communications
• Carley Mace, Digital
• Claire Wood, Communications

Theme 3A. Vulnerabilities & Decision Making

• Iain Campbell, Civil Contingencies Division
• James McQueen, Civil Contingencies Division

Theme 3B. Transparency & Scrutiny in Decision Making

• Andy Proudfoot, Cabinet, Parliament and Governance

Observers

• Judith Ainsley, Preparedness Unit
• Chris Mackie, Constitution and UK Relations
• Claire Tynte-Irvine, Co-Director for Covid Inquiries Response Directorate