How prepared is the UK for the next pandemic? MPs launch new inquiry

• Inquiry: Emerging diseases and learnings from covid-19
• Science and Technology Committee

The Committee will examine whether the Government is applying the lessons from its handling of covid-19, including on vaccine development, testing capacity, scientific advice in Government and the economic impact of pandemics. The inquiry follows-up the Committee’s October 2021 lessons learned Report, published jointly with the Health and Social Care Committee, and the Committee’s January 2021 report into the use of scientific advice in Government during covid-19.

Among the topics MPs will consider is the threat posed by zoonotic diseases—diseases that can spread between animals and humans— which include covid-19, avian flu, and Ebola—and how best to prevent and control them.

The inquiry will examine how the UK can enhance its response to disease outbreaks with pandemic potential, with a focus on the UK’s biosecurity framework and the co-ordination between the Government and the UK Health SecurityAgency.

Chair's comments

Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair of Science and Technology Committee, said:

“When we published our investigation into the Government’s handling of the covid-19 pandemic we said the Government should learn from its mistakes and its successes.

At our follow-up session last month, we heard concerning testimony that the systems that made the UK vaccine effort such a success are being dismantled.

Covid-19 will not be our last pandemic. It is vital the lessons are embedded to inform future decisions on disease outbreaks with pandemic potential and protect lives and livelihoods

Our inquiry will scrutinise the Government’s actions and policy on emerging diseases with pandemic potential, such as the recent avian flu outbreak, and make recommendations on how the UK’s response can be enhanced.”

Terms of reference

The Committee is inviting written submissions by 31 March 2023, addressing any or all the following points:

• How the Government is applying lessons from the covid-19 pandemic, in areas such as:
  • Pandemic preparedness;
  • Testing capacity and approach;
  • Vaccine development and treatments;
  • Scientific advice in Government; and
  • Accounting for the economic impact of pandemics
• The causes of zoonotic disease emergence and ‘spillover events’, the types of zoonotic disease most likely to emerge; and the potential global implications of a future zoonotic disease outbreak;
• The extent of UK preparedness for an emerging disease outbreak with pandemic potential, and how this could be enhanced, including an assessment of recent policy announcements such as the refresh of the UK Biological Security Strategy;
• The extent of co-ordination between Government departments and other bodies such as the UK Health Security Agency;
• Whether the threat from animal and other diseases receives sufficient cross-government priority; and
• Additional policy initiatives and solutions needed in the UK and internationally to reduce the risk of the future spread of emerging diseases with pandemic potential.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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