Llywydd, we are still, in many ways, in the early stages of this outbreak. Until we have effective therapies and, in time, we hope, an effective vaccine, our focus must be on dealing with the coronavirus as a public health emergency.

The motion notes that the point for any inquiry is not now, and people who would give evidence to an inquiry are entirely focused on handling the current emergency, and I expect that will be the case for some time yet. We know, from the experience of other pandemics, that it may well be into next year before we can say with confidence that the worst is behind us; that remains to be seen as we debate today.

I am proud of the way that the Welsh Government is, and has, responded, and I am grateful to the people of Wales for their response. In any number of ways, this crisis has brought out the best in people in all our communities as they face this adversity together. But there are, of course, lessons to be learned and areas to improve, and we are taking steps within Welsh Government to do that from day to day and from week to week as we keep focused on responding to the crisis.

Llywydd, there is a need for an independent inquiry to be set up. It should happen at the right time, and these are the key principles that should guide us as we establish it: an inquiry will be most effective in understanding events and the actions taken, if it involves all the UK administrations. This pandemic has affected all parts of the UK, and many decisions have been taken across the four nations. A great deal of the response to the pandemic has rightly been managed at a UK level and has involved many others alongside Governments, so it's important that there is a co-ordinated approach to the inquiry into the handling, by the UK Government, the devolved Governments and others. We would hope that could be achieved, but if not, then we would obviously accept an inquiry limited to events and actions in Wales. And, of course, the Senedd will continue to scrutinise the Welsh Government and its ongoing actions to deal with the crisis, as it has today, and I know that Members will understand why I won't address each of the specific points made about actions taken during the debate.

The leadership of the inquiry should be agreed between all parts of the UK. It must not be imposed on, or by, any of us. We agree the inquiry should be independent. I want to be clear that we are not opposed, in principle, to a judge-led inquiry, but it does require discussions with others and it does bring with it some constraints. Some parties have called for an epidemiologist to lead any future inquiry, and this is a matter for consideration over the coming months.

The person chosen to lead the inquiry will rightly want to be involved in setting its terms. These should consider Government but others, also, so that it looks at the response in the round. The inquiry will need to respect the devolved competence of this Senedd and of each part of the UK. It should start, report and conclude at the times when it can most effectively undertake its task of investigation and scrutiny. We should not seek to predetermine when that can be today.

Crucial to the issue of timing will be the need to take account of the ongoing crisis management. As we move from summer to winter, we may well be dealing with a further peak and with other winter pressures, and I know that Members will agree that those working on the front line will need, of course, to be able to do their work unimpeded by other pressures. Equally, the inquiry will deserve the fullest attention from those giving evidence to it, and I would anticipate that the person leading the inquiry will want to give consideration to an approach that enables that.

Turning briefly to the original motion, I have set out the principles we believe should guide the establishment of an inquiry. Our amendments are consistent with these, and I invite Members to support them. While we agree with the premise of the amendments in Siân Gwenllian's name, it is impossible for the Government to support them today, because they prescribe timings for the inquiry to report and specify the leadership, and it is too early to be so prescriptive. We must first seek to agree a UK-wide approach and then give the independent inquiry leadership our support in due course.