Eighteen months since the Welsh Conservatives first called for an independent public inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has made clear that the present Welsh Government stance is undermining the nation’s “ability to reflect, remember and prepare for what is next.”
In Scotland, a judge-led COVID-19 inquiry will be established by the end of the year. With increasing support for such an action to be replicated in Wales, contributing to the debate on the matter today, Mrs Finch-Saunders took the opportunity to welcome the calls of the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales for a Wales-specific COVID-19 inquiry.
Commenting after her contribution to the virtual session, Janet said:
“Having met with the Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru in the Senedd last month, the pressing need for answers was once again underlined by heart-breaking stories of loss and hardship. Through its unwavering support of a four nation inquiry, the Welsh Government is denying the Welsh public answers on decisions it took, and took alone.
“Given that the Welsh Government took an incoherent approach to lifting lockdown measures, ranging from the incredulous five mile rule that failed to recognise the realities of rural Wales to the sudden complete releasing of Wales after the firebreak lockdown, denying this inquiry means that we are unable to evaluate the impact of certain restriction methods.
“Accessibility to these answers will be key to our business community who feel wholeheartedly let down by the Welsh Government’s pandemic handling, with funding support arriving in a late and confused fashion, and applications accepted on a first-come-first-served basis rather than by need.
“To this day, I have hospitality businesses who are concerned that the Welsh Government will once again take the decision to ban the sale of alcohol in pubs – a restriction that was not proportionate and crippling to the hospitality industry, especially in December where businesses can make up to 25% of annual turnover.
“As I made clear during the debate today, by hiding behind investigations into the UK Government decisions on Covid-19, this Welsh Government is undermining our ability to reflect, remember and prepare for what is next.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
