UK COVID-19 Inquiry to hear directly about the experiences of disabled people and their families during the pandemic
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and learn lessons for the future. The Inquiry is Chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge. The Inquiry’s work is guided by its Terms of Reference which are published on the Terms of Reference page.
In order to allow a full and focused examination of all of the different aspects of the pandemic that are covered in the Terms of Reference, Baroness Hallett has decided to divide the Inquiry’s investigation into Modules.
The three modules set up to date are:
Module 1 – Resilience and Preparedness
Module 2 – Core UK political and administrative decision making from January 2020 to early 2022
Module 3 – Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare systems in all four UK Nations
There are also additional modules: 2A, 2B and 2C which will examine core Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish political decision making between January 2020 to early 2022
Disability Wales (DW) together with Disability Rights UK, Disability Action NI and Inclusion Scotland are core participants in Module 2 and their respective devolved Modules. This enables the organisations to, amongst other things, access disclosure, make submissions to the Inquiry and suggest lines of questioning for key witnesses.
The Preliminary Hearing for Module 2B is on Wednesday 29th March. It will look at core political and administrative decision making in Wales.
DW will be addressing the Inquiry at the Public Hearing to give voice to the experiences of disabled people from Wales and their families.
Rhian Davies, Chief Executive of Disability Wales said:
‘The pandemic exposed deep seated inequalities in society, with laws previously introduced to protect the rights of disabled people failing to do so when most needed. In Wales 68% of deaths from Covid-19 comprised disabled people. Yet as stated in the report Locked-out: liberating the lives and rights of disabled people in Wales beyond Covid-19, there was nothing inevitable about the high death rate among Disabled people. It is therefore vital that the Covid-19 Inquiry hears the voices of Disabled people in Wales, listens to our evidence and testimony and ensures that lessons are learnt for the future.’
The Module 2B Hearing will be broadcast live on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry YouTube channel.
Notes to editors
- For further information and interviews please contact:
- Miranda Evans, Policy and Programmes Manager Disability Wales on 029 20887325 miranda.evans@disabilitywales.org
2. Disability Wales is the national association of disabled people’s organisations striving for the rights and equality of all disabled people.
3. UK Covid-19 Inquiry website: https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk
4. The four national DPOs including Disability Wales are represented by Shamik Dutta, Charlotte Haworth Hird, Olivia Anness, Nazmul Hasan, Leila Mani Lundie and Rebecca Dare of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors instructing Danny Friedman KC and Anita Davies at Matrix Chambers
