The Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry has been set up and officially launched, marked by the new dedicated website becoming available.
This represents a new stage in the Inquiry’s progress and will be the first port of call for any related updates and information.
The website will host the key founding documents for the Inquiry – terms of reference, procedure, and protocols – as well as FAQs, insights and live updates. Having an accessible and user-friendly website is an important factor for this Inquiry, particularly given the almost universal relevance it has in Scotland. The website also provides specific information on its commitment to properly address human rights and equalities throughout its investigation and findings. This aligns with the “person-centred, human rights-based approach” to be adopted, which should inform its recommendations. As we discussed in our recent article on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, the UK Chair has recommended the UK-wide Terms of Reference be amended and reframed to put inequalities at its forefront, so that investigation into the unequal impacts of the pandemic runs through the whole Inquiry. If accepted, this will mean that both the Scottish and the UK-wide Inquiries will have similar questions about inequalities running through the separate investigations.
One of the updates shared for the Scottish Inquiry is that this Inquiry has instructed introductory research from academic institutions to facilitate the Inquiry’s decision-making. This research will be published via the website once complete, and will be one of the resources the Inquiry relies on in determining the shape and direction of its work.
Although the Inquiry is now “launched” it is still very much in the early stages of development, and there is still work to be done before it can move to taking evidence and setting a timeline. The broad scope of the aims means it will be critical that the proper infrastructure and procedure is put in place to effectively manage the workload. It will take time to establish this foundation, so it may be some time before the Inquiry moves into investigatory mode.
The website can be accessed here.
If you or your organisation would like to know more about the forthcoming inquiries, Burness Paull’s specialist Inquiries team is on hand to help with any questions you might have.
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