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

Introduction

The Chair’s recommendations relevant to the Scottish Government cover a wide range of issues. To provide a clear and easy-to-follow response, we have grouped the recommendations into four overarching themes. This approach helps us present the issues more clearly, shows how they are connected and set out the actions and timelines for each recommendation in a structured and understandable format.

We have presented our response under the following themes: scientific and expert advice; communications and digital access; decision-making structures and the framework for considering those at risk in an emergency; and intergovernmental working.

The themes set out align broadly with how issues were explored with the Covid Inquiry Response Engagement Group (CIREG), whose feedback shaped both the framing of the themes and the content of the response. Their insights have been drawn on throughout this document.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s report contains a total of 19 recommendations. Five of the Chair’s recommendations relate specifically to arrangements in the other UK nations and are therefore not included within our response.[1]

Several recommendations have been accepted in principle. This means the Scottish Government agrees with the recommendations and supports them but is still undertaking work to establish how they can be implemented most effectively. Where a recommendation involves the Scottish Government but is for another body to implement, we have welcomed the recommendation and committed to support that body in taking it forward.