Conservative Senedd member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Andrew RT Davies has accused Plaid Cymru of backtracking on a commitment to hold a Wales-specific Covid inquiry.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Davies asked Culture Minister Heledd Fychan if the new Plaid administration would launch a full public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005.
This would give the inquiry the power to compel evidence and witnesses.
In opposition, Plaid had committed to holding a Wales-specific full public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Davies referred to comments made by Constitution Minister Dafydd Trystan Davies which referred to a “review” rather than an inquiry.
He asked Fychan to clarify the form the investigation would take.
Fychan refused to confirm it would have full statutory powers, which Mr Davies said indicated Plaid were backtracking on their previous pledge.
Mr Davies said:
“Plaid Cymru separatists’ first weeks in power have been marred by broken promises.
“Their failure to commit to a Covid inquiry with full statutory powers suggests they’re backtracking on this too.
“The cynical way in which many politicians fail to keep their pledges is the reason public trust in politics has collapsed.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the Senedd’s record of proceedings from Tuesday 30th June
https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/16078#C765569
Andrew R.T. Davies
15:34:17
Leader of the house, could we have a statement from the Government Minister responsible for Government delivery and the constitution? In his statement last week, he referred constantly to the COVID review rather than the COVID inquiry that the Government promised when they were in opposition. It was quite clear that, when you were in opposition, you were voting for an inquiry. I appreciate that you, your good self, on a tv programme, did refer to it as being more of a review, and the health Secretary in opposition said, ‘No, it’s an inquiry.’ Can we have clarity, please, via a statement, to understand the Government preparations in putting this together and that it will be an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005?
Heledd Fychan
15:35:00
Well, thank you. I will refer the Member to the Plaid Cymru manifesto, where it was clear—and the commitment that was made in working with COVID bereaved families—in terms of what we would commit to. So, certainly there will be an update when that work does progress. But the Member will know clearly that we have stood on our manifesto, that there has been collaboration with the families affected. He will also know that we stood shoulder-to-shoulder and have been calling for lessons to be learned. And that’s what needs to happen here: lessons should be learned, so that preparations are better for the future when—when—something similar happens in future, because the likelihood of that is high, and certainly we are committed to learning those lessons.
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