UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Module 2 report: Scottish Government response - easy read

3. Decision making plan for the most vulnerable

Emergencies and pandemics can have a negative effect on our country. Strong decision-making guides can help to respond to emergencies.

Preparing Scotland is a set of guidance documents for organisations preparing for emergencies. Preparing Scotland aims to help us respond to new threats and emergencies.

In 2025, the Scottish Government took part in an exercise to test how ready we are for a future pandemic. This helped to work out what to do in future.

Recommendation 8. A plan for those at risk in an emergency

All governments should agree a plan to identify people most at risk of harm from a disease. It also should identify people who might be harmed by actions taken because of a pandemic.

We use Equality Impact Assessments to think about how our decisions will affect different groups of people in different way. Equality impact assessments should be part of this plan.

Each government should make sure the plan is used in an emergency.

Scottish Government response

The Scottish Government accepts this. We know that some people might be more likely to be harmed in an emergency.

Vulnerable people are more likely to harmed in an emergency. People can be vulnerable for many reasons, like disability or age.

We have a duty to protect vulnerable people all the time, including in an emergency. We will ask vulnerable people how their lives are affected and get their views. We will also ask for views from experts.

We will use existing guidance to make sure people who might be harmed are thought about before and during an emergency.

We will support other organisations to quickly identify and help people who might be harmed in an emergency. We always think about human rights. This is to help people have safe and happy lives.

When and how

We are getting better using what we learned from the 2025 pandemic exercise.

Recommendation 10. Emergency decision-making

All governments should say how decision making will work in a future pandemic. The plan should explain how decisions will be made by the UK and Scottish Governments in the pandemic.

The plan needs:

• A group to make big decisions

• A group to decide what action to take.

Decision-making groups should include a minister who makes sure vulnerable people are considered.

Scottish Government response

The Scottish Government accepts this and understands it is important to have a plan for a future pandemic.

During a pandemic, the Scottish Government makes big decisions. A minister has the job of thinking about vulnerable people.

When and how

Our plan for future emergencies was tested during the pandemic exercise. We will work on it during 2026.

Recommendation 11. Backup plan for the First Minister

The First Minster may not aways be available to do their job. Each government should have a plan for who would do their work if they are not available.

Scottish Government response

The Scottish Government accepts this and has a plan for a change of leadership in an emergency. We would want any change in leadership to be quick and work well.

When and how

We will make a plan for a change of leadership in an emergency by in 2026. We will check this plan every year.

Recommendation 12. Taskforces

Each government should have a group called a taskforce to work together to respond to a future emergency.

The plan for future emergencies should say how the taskforce would work. This includes who will run it and what they will do.

Scottish Government response

The Scottish Government accepts this and understands it is important to have a group that can work with others to help make decisions in an emergency.

We will include a plan for a taskforce in our plan for future emergencies. We will make sure vulnerable people are thought about in planning and during an emergency.

When and How

Our plan for future emergencies was tested in the pandemic exercise. We will make it better in 2026. We will keep working on the plan.

Recommendation 15. Checking emergency rules are used the right way

Each government should make sure that new rules in an emergency are made the right way.

Scottish Government Response

The Scottish Government accepts this. We agree new rules must be made the right way. They should be easy to understand.

We will listen to people’s views while we make rules in an emergency. We will explain what we do to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Parliament will check that we are making and using rules the right way.

When and How

We are already doing this. We will make sure it is easy for the Scottish Parliament to check we are doing things the right way in an emergency.

Recommendation 16. Look at the existing law about emergency plans

The UK Government should check if the existing law can be used for emergency plans until a new law is made.

Scottish Government response

The Scottish Government will work with the UK Government to check this, and make sure it is right for Scotland too.

When and How

This will be done in 2027.