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. 

This 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. 

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 COVID-19 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. 

Since the themes the Inquiry is investigating are interdependent, there will be areas of overlap. The Inquiry will adopt a flexible approach to ensure that evidence which straddles more than one theme will be considered across all relevant themes. 

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

The first set of impact hearings will deal with health and social care and will begin on 24 October 2023.