Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Andrew RT Davies has said revelations of a PPE shortage in Welsh hospitals at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrates the need for any Wales-specific inquiry to have full statutory powers.
The UK Covid Inquiry today revealed that Wales did not have any in date FFP3 respirator masks at the start of the pandemic, contrary to ministers’ previous assurances.
He warned Plaid Cymru ministers against downgrading a proposed inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic in Wales, arguing that to do so would constitute a “betrayal”.
He said it must be set up under the Inquiries Act 2005, with the power to compel evidence and witnesses.
He warned the exercise would be “pointless” if this did not take place.
Mr Davies said:
“Today’s revelations are shocking.
“We were told Wales was well stocked with FFP3 respirator masks prior to the pandemic – but we now know this was not the case.
“Any Wales-specific inquiry must have the power to compel evidence and witnesses – otherwise the whole thing will be pointless.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from Tuesday 14th July
https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/16085#C767603
Andrew R.T. Davies
14:45:58
Warm words, Minister, but little substance. The reality is that we found out, with the COVID committee that was set in the previous Senedd term, that unless witnesses were compelled to give evidence, that committee was thwarted in its endeavours to get to the truth. Today, for example, the COVID inquiry reports that the FFP3 respirator masks that we were told Wales was well stocked with prior to the COVID pandemic in its emergency allocation—there wasn’t a single mask in Wales available for the health service to use. These are the things we need to get to the core of as to what was not provided, what was mislaid, what was deliberately not ordered to save money, and what was not acted on the emergency planning trials that were held prior to the COVID pandemic. If you don’t set it up with the Inquiries Act 2005 in mind, whatever you bring forward will be pointless. So I implore you and the Government to stick to your guns, stick to your morals, stick to the votes that you made prior to the Senedd election, and have a full-blown inquiry that gets to the truth and, ultimately, prepares Wales for any future pandemic.
Dafydd Trystan Davies
14:47:18
I heard the opposition spokesperson’s passion for the issue and the importance of the issue. Reading the most recent module report on COVID brings home the sobering impact of COVID right across this country. Those lessons must be learnt, the review that we are committed to undertaking must have the ability to address those precise issues that you have set out, and that is what we will seek to do.
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