Llywydd, this pandemic has been very long and difficult, and it's impacted on all aspects of our daily lives. In an ideal world, we would be looking forward to Christmas and new year at this point, but once again, we are facing a new variant that is moving very quickly, and tens of thousands of people across the nation could be infected by this variant before Christmas.

This is a very concerning time and uncertain time for all of us. But if it's a difficult and painful time, it will certainly now be a time that is even harder for anyone who has lost a loved one during this pandemic. Unfortunately, a number of families have lost a loved one, far too many families. This virus is cruel, and it has killed. In several instances, the families who've been left behind have questions, and it's only right that those families can expect an answer to those questions.

Considering the wide-ranging impact that the pandemic has had, it's entirely appropriate that a public inquiry is held. This inquiry should consider not just how we as a Government have responded to this pandemic, but how other public bodies have responded as well.

The pandemic has impacted every part of the United Kingdom. There is a very close relationship between many of the decisions made and the steps that were taken here in Wales and those taken across all of the nations of the United Kingdom. In terms of scrutiny of the decisions that were made by the Welsh Government and other institutions in the public sector in Wales during the pandemic, we believe that an inquiry for the whole of the United Kingdom is the best option for doing that in an appropriate and open way. The United Kingdom Prime Minister has announced that an independent inquiry will be established that will consider the pandemic from the point of view of the UK as a whole. 

We in the Welsh Government believe that it is important that the decisions that were made here in Wales and in other devolved nations are considered within the wider context of the decisions that have been taken in Westminster. A great deal of the response to the pandemic was managed at a UK level. Many people worked side by side with the Government to advise and give guidance. We believe that, in holding the inquiry, it is important to adopt a method that looks at all aspects together. We must look into the way that the United Kingdom Government, as well as the devolved Governments, responded to the pandemic.