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"This process will place the state's actions under the
microscope," he told parliament.
The inquiry will have the backing of legislation giving it
far-reaching powers, Johnson said.
Johnson had previously agreed to hold an inquiry but resisted
pressure from opposition parties to begin it while the
government was still handling the crisis, saying it was more
important to focus on that and the subsequent recovery plan.
But speaking in parliament, he said the inquiry would begin in
spring 2022 once some of the worst pressures had subsided to
avoid diverting resources from the crisis response. He warned of
the risk of a resurgence of the virus.
He did not set out the terms of reference for the inquiry, or
who would lead it, saying it was necessary to consult with
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on those issues.
(Reporting by Alistair Smout and Michael Holden, writing by
William James; Editing by William Schomberg/Guy Faulconbridge)
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