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Joint inquiry to question Health Secretary on Government measures taken to counter spread of pandemic

20 November 2020

Matt Hancock will face questions on the effectiveness of the Government’s use of non-pharmaceutical interventions to control the spread of coronavirus. These include test, trace and isolate, mask-wearing, social distancing, and lockdown.

Purpose of the session

MPs will focus on the scientific advice behind the measures, the timing of decisions and the benefits and risks involved.

The Government’s public messaging will also be examined in terms of its transparency and consistency as well as the impact on levels of trust, confidence and compliance.

The first panel of witnesses will give their assessment of the effectiveness of the action taken.

Other aspects of the Government’s response to coronavirus will also be looked at, including the discharge of hospital patients into care homes, care home visiting, the procurement of PPE and future vaccines.

Witnesses

Tuesday 24 November 2020

From 10.15am:

Panel 1

  • Professor Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health, University of Edinburgh 
  • Alex Thomas, Programme Director, Institute for Government 

At 11.00am:

Panel 2

  • Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Clara Swinson, Director General for Global and Public Health, Department of Health and Social Care

Further information

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