Hearing structure and sequence

The Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry has adopted a thematic approach to its investigations and hearings, giving priority to evidence from people most impacted by the pandemic in Scotland.

The three themes are:

• health and social care;
• education and young people; and
• finance, business and welfare.

For each of these themes, the Inquiry will first look at the impact of the pandemic, then the implementation of measures, and finally, key decision-making.

More information about which Terms of Reference will be covered in each theme will be made available as investigations progress and engagement with core participants and other interested parties continue.

The first set of impact hearings will deal with health and social care. Arrangements are being made to invite groups granted core participant status regarding health and social care issues to an Inquiry Planning Meeting with the Chair and senior legal team in late April/early May.

This virtual session will allow the Inquiry team to give more information on plans for public impact hearings to begin this autumn and provide an opportunity for discussion.

The thematic approach seeks to bring the experiences of people in Scotland to the forefront of our investigations, ensuring the human impact of the pandemic is captured before memories fade.

The Inquiry will hold its first public hearing this summer, as a ‘scene-setting’ evidence session on the epidemiology of COVID-19 to provide a factual background to support all further investigations and hearings.

The evidence gathered at public hearings will inform the Inquiry’s ongoing work across its investigative portfolios, the issues examined at future hearings, and its reports.