Here you can find information about the latest Reviews into the Government's response to Covid-19. 

Joint Committee on Human Rights

On 19 March the JCHR announced that it will scrutinise the Government’s COVID-19 response. This includes any legislation that the Government brings forward to contain and control the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as how those measures are then implemented, and how the response could be differently affecting different groups of people. The Committee is accepting evidence about this until 22 July 2020. It is hearing oral evidence which is streamed on the parliament website. Find out more about the Inquiry here. 

The Committee has published a briefing paper which sets out: (1) the human rights implications of the outbreak and of the different sorts of measures that the government might be implementing in response; and (2) the legislative provision that already exists. Read the paper here and other evidence here.


The Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Harriet Harman MP, said:

"Times of national crisis call for strong and decisive leadership. However, at this time, it is also vitally important that checks and balances are in place to ensure that human rights are not disregarded, and that people remain fully protected under the law ... The government needs to protect the right to life and at the same time consider the impact on human rights as it strives to protect the country in this unprecedented time."

Women and Equalities Committee

On the 30 March the Committee announced that it wants to hear about the different and disproportionate impact that the Coronavirus – and measures to tackle it - is having on people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act. These are age, disability, sex, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. The Committee is asking for written evidence by the 3 May 2020, but has also said that later submissions will be accepted. Find out more about the Inquiry here, including the issues the Committee is already concerned about such as domestic abuse, older people, disabled adults and children, and other issues.

Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Nokes, said:


“In these extraordinary times, it is as important as ever that the Government considers how its actions to tackle the coronavirus impact differently on different communities. Passing emergency legislation at great speed has been essential. Now we need to understand the present and future effect on those who may already be marginalised. We are listening, and we need your evidence to help us to help the Government consider equalities issues, to ensure that its policies and plans are as effective as possible.”

Equality and Human Rights Committee (Scotland)

On 27 April, the Committee launched its inquiry into the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on equalities and human rights. The inquiry remit is to consider what groups and individuals are disproportionately impacted by COVID 19; identify what the Scottish Government and other public bodies, including regulatory and oversight bodies, need to do to ensure that measures taken in relation to the pandemic minimise negative effects on equality and human rights; and examine measures taken by the Scottish Government and other public bodies and the impacts they may have on equality and human rights. There is deadline on evidence submissions to the Committee. Find out more about the Inquiry here.