UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Module 1 report: progress update - July 2025

Ministerial foreword

On 16 January 2025, the Scottish Government published its response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 1 report and recommendations. The response welcomed the Chair’s careful and considered recommendations, and set out details of the actions Scottish Government will take to deliver the changes needed.

The Scottish Government continues to be fully committed to making effective, practical and measurable improvements in pandemic planning and preparedness. Implementing the actions set out in response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s module 1 findings is a commitment in the Programme for Government 2025-26.

Over the past six months the Scottish Government has been working, in partnership with local and national stakeholders and working as a four nations group, where appropriate, to implement the accepted recommendations within the timeframes set out in our response. During Autumn 2025, the Scottish Government will be participating in the UK-wide pandemic exercise, Exercise Pegasus, to test our national and local preparedness for future pandemics. This is the first exercise of its kind in almost a decade.

The Scottish Government has provided funding to Public Health Scotland to support the establishment of the National Scottish Pandemic Sciences Partnership, a key recommendation of the Standing Committee on Pandemic Preparedness - gov.scot. The National Scottish Pandemic Sciences Partnership will augment our existing approach to pandemic preparedness and establish itself as a collaboration that leverages our strengths in pandemic science.

This progress report sets out the actions the Scottish Government has taken since January 2025 and further work planned over the coming months.

The Scottish Government recognises, however, that there is still further work to be done to ensure that Scotland is as resilient as possible to future risks and we are committed to taking the necessary steps. The Scottish Government looks forward to continuing to work closely with our partners and stakeholders to deliver these recommendations and we will provide our next progress update by the end of January 2026.

Kate Forbes MSP

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic