Gov Slow to Hand Over Material to Covid Review

The gov was still sending material to the Covid review in June, despite this being due to have happened in January.

Chair of the independent review of the gov’s handling of the pandemic Kate Brunner KC has issued an update on her progress.

Ms Brunner said that the Review is ‘making good progress, and remains on track for delivering the report at the end of the year’.

However, she added: ‘We have been provided with a significant amount of material from government, and there has been a good level of cooperation. The intention was for Government to provide us with material by the end of January 2023. That did not happen, and we were still receiving significant amounts of material in June. We have adjusted our processes to deal with that delay.

‘The Review is being very well supported by the IOM project team led by Louise Quayle which is coordinating Government’s documentation, and with my agreement making limited redactions such as removing patient details before that material is shared with the Review.’

The Review has gathered evidence from hundreds of people, including those who lost loved ones in the pandemic, current government employees, ex-employees, representatives of the business community, charities, returning residents who stayed at the Comis and many others.

Formal interviews will take place with the central decision-makers and advisors in September and October as planned. The interviews will not be conducted in public, but transcripts or extracts will be published alongside my report.

FoI’s

Ms Brunner has also used her update to address any concerns around the release of documents under FoI.

She said: ‘I am unsure whether Departments are refusing FOI requests on the basis that releasing information will somehow compromise the Independent Review. Plainly any Department’s response to a FOI request is a matter for that Department, and I do not seek to involve myself in that.

‘I do, however, want to put on record that I have no concern about responses to FOI requests interfering with my Review and I do not endorse any refusal of FOIs on that basis. I have written to the Review’s Sponsors to ask that this message is conveyed to Government Departments.’

Cease and Desist

In a statement which will not be too much of a surprise to some, she said: ‘It is an important principle that Government actively encourages cooperation with the Independent Review, and that principle has been reflected in correspondence with Government employees. That principle applies equally to those outside Government who may want to share information, analysis and concerns with the Review. Where a Department issues a cease and desist letter, or indeed any correspondence which seeks to restrict what individuals say about a topic which falls within my Review, it is important that it is made clear that Government is not seeking to restrict that person’s full and frank cooperation with the Review.’

You can read the full update here.