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Inquiry hearings to continue through lockdown

Written by Aaron Dennis, November 2, 2020

The Infected Blood Inquiry will continue its hearings during lockdown because its work is “too important to wait”.

In an announcement following today’s evidence at the inquiry, Sir Brian Langstaff, inquiry chair, said the inquiry would carry on as timetabled, despite the second national lockdown which is due to come into force on Thursday.

Sir Brian said: “Many people have been waiting years for the answers this inquiry is tasked with delivering. The inquiry’s work is too important to wait.”

Sir Brian and the inquiry’s legal team will continue to offer “fair and robust” questioning of witnesses using a video link, but no members of the public will be allowed to watch proceedings live from Fleetbank House.

Legal representatives not directly involved with a witness and journalists will also be asked to follow the inquiry remotely.

Sir Brian said: “We will do what we can to ensure that the restrictions do not delay the progress of the inquiry. We have announced indicative hearing weeks into spring and we will continue to announce new witnesses when they have been timetabled.”

You can read Sir Brian’s statement in full here.