The UK COVID inquiry has begun its first hearing in Wales, looking at the decisions taken by the Welsh government during the pandemic.
For the next few weeks, the inquiry will sit at the Mercure Hotel in Cardiff.
The inquiry will spend until 14 March hearing evidence for Module 2B – core decision-making in Wales.
But some people who lost family members during the pandemic have told Sky News they want to see a separate Wales-specific COVID inquiry, as is the case in Scotland.
Read more: The families in Wales who want answers on COVID decisions
Responding to those calls, chair of the inquiry Baroness Heather Hallett said that “everyone knows [it] is not a decision for me”.
“I can promise, however, that the UK inquiry will do its utmost to investigate and analyse fully and fairly the most significant issues that concern the people of Wales,” she said.
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The Welsh government has previously argued that decisions taken in Wales should be considered within a UK context.
Baroness Hallett said it was “probably appropriate that we begin these hearings in Wales in a week that includes St David’s Day but also includes the National Day of Reflection on Sunday, when we remember those who lost their lives during the pandemic”.
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As the hearing got under way on Tuesday, a 20-minute impact film, with contributors speaking in both English and Welsh, was played.
Baroness Hallett described it as “extremely moving” and “it reminds us all why we are here”.
The opening statements will take place on Tuesday, with the evidence starting on Wednesday.
Lead counsel to the inquiry, Tom Poole KC, said the module would primarily focus on the decisions taken by the Welsh government, but would also include “an analysis of inter-governmental structures and relations between the four governments of the UK”.
Mr Poole confirmed on Tuesday that outgoing first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, will be called to give evidence, as well as former health minister, Vaughan Gething, and senior government officials.
