UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Module 1 report: progress update - January 2026

10. Independent statutory body

Recommendation Ten – A UK-wide independent statutory body for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience

Chair’s recommendation:

The UK Government should, in consultation with the devolved governments, create a statutory independent body for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience.

The new body should be given responsibility for:

• Providing independent, strategic advice to the UK Government and devolved governments on their planning for, preparedness for and building resilience to whole-system civil emergencies;
• Consulting with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector at a national and local level and directors of public health on the protection of vulnerable people in whole-system civil emergencies;
• Assessing the state of planning for, preparedness for and resilience to whole system civil emergencies across the UK; and
• Making recommendations on the capacity and capabilities that will be required to prepare for and build resilience to whole-system civil emergencies.

As an interim measure, the new body should be established on a non-statutory basis within 12 months of this Report, so that it may begin its work in advance of legislation being passed.

Implementation actions and timescales set out in our January 2025 response:

• Dependent on further consideration of this recommendation by the UK Government and its consultation with the devolved governments

Progress update as at January 2026:

• In December 2025, the Scottish Government participated in the pilot process led by the UK Government. The pilot involved independent experts from outside government undertaking a structured review and providing recommendations and an accompanying report; and
• The Scottish Government will continue to participate in consultation with the UK Government and the other devolved governments on this recommendation.