What sources does the Inquiry use to inform its investigations?

Although the oral evidence given by witnesses at public hearings is the most visible source of information guiding the Inquiry’s investigations, there are other sources.

These are:

  • expert witnesses;
  • voluntary and mandatory calls for evidence;
  • written witness statements;
  • independent academic research; and
  • the Inquiry’s listening project, Let’s Be Heard.

 

You can find out more about each source of information below:

Illustration of the six sources of information the Inquiry uses: expert witnesses, voluntary and mandatory calls for evidence, written witness statements, independent academic research and the Inquiry’s listening project, Let’s Be Heard.

Expert witnesses

The Inquiry will commission reports from independent experts who provide their own professional opinion about what happened during the pandemic. Some expert witnesses may also be asked to give oral testimony at a public hearing. Their professionally-informed views do not pre-empt the eventual conclusions and recommendations the Inquiry will make.

 

Voluntary calls for evidence

The Inquiry has asked individuals and organisations to voluntarily provide documents and evidence under Rule 8 of the Inquiries (Scotland) Rules of 2007. 

 

Mandatory calls for evidence

The Inquiry has also served notices under Section 21 of the Inquiries Act of 2005. These are mandatory requests to individuals or organisations to provide relevant documents and evidence. 

In both cases (voluntary and mandatory calls for evidence), the information provided is analysed by the Inquiry’s legal team, considered by the Chair, and may be referred to in witness testimony.

 

Witness testimony

The Inquiry is taking written witness statements from people and organisations. These statements may be published on the Inquiry’s website. Some witnesses will also be asked to attend a public hearing to provide oral evidence based on their statements. Our hearings are chaired by Lord Brailsford, the Inquiry’s chair.

 

Academic research

The Inquiry has commissioned external, independent academic research into what happened during the pandemic. 

These reports, which are published on the Inquiry’s website, contain the views of their authors and are not binding on the Inquiry.

 

Let’s Be Heard

The Inquiry’s listening project, Let’s Be Heard, is the main way in which people have contributed to the Inquiry. Let’s Be Heard aims to give a voice to as many people across Scotland as possible by inviting people to share their experiences of the pandemic and highlight any lessons they think should be learned. 

More than 5,000 people have shared their experiences with Let’s Be Heard. These experiences will guide the Inquiry’s investigations and can help identify potential witnesses for our hearings.

Let's Be Heard will publish a series of reports based on the experiences shared by the public in Scotland. Its first report was published in November 2023.