rishi sunak, now prime minister, then chancellor, had launched the eat out to help out scheme to get people back into restaurants and pubs over that first summer of covid in 2020. but he had not consulted them before launching that. clearly, they made it clear, they took something of a dim view of that. that was last week, that was the science, this week we are back with the politicians. today, starting this morning with sadiq khan, mayor of london, and we also have mayors from the north—west of england, steve rotherham, liverpool, greater manchester, andy burnham, couple of elements there, remember, there were restrictions brought in on a hot dry basis initially in the autumn of 2020 to effectively try to play wacko mole as hotspots popped up. that then gave way to a more structured tiers system which was supposed to solve some of the regularities and standardise the procedure across the country. i suspect we will get into a lot of that, plus other questions like sadiq khan in his written evidence, some of which has emerged already submitted to this inquiry, has spoken about the fact he wasn't invited to some of the key meetings, the cobra emergency meetings, early in the pandemic, given the outbraked in the pandemic, given the outbraked in london he felt he should have, i suspect we will be getting into some of that with the evidence this morning. 3 of that with the evidence this morninu. �* , ., of that with the evidence this morninu. �* , . ., , morning. a big name that we will be heafina morning. a big name that we will be hearing from — morning. a big name that we will be hearing from later _ morning. a big name that we will be hearing from later in _ morning. a big name that we will be hearing from later in the _ morning. a big name that we will be hearing from later in the week- morning. a big name that we will be hearing from later in the week is - hearing from later in the week is the former health secretary matt hancock, we have heard a lot about him, not least from dominic cummings, who was chief adviser to borisjohnson at the time, that is going to be really critical to this inquiry, what matt hancock has to say? inquiry, what matt hancock has to sa ? ., �* , �* inquiry, what matt hancock has to sa ? . �* , ~ ., ., inquiry, what matt hancock has to sa? ,., say? that's right. a lot of those who given _ say? that's right. a lot of those who given evidence _ say? that's right. a lot of those who given evidence have - say? that's right. a lot of those - who given evidence have mentioned matt hancock, who was health secretary, mentioned his role throughout the pandemic. last week we heard some of the scientists talking in terms of perhaps he might have been overenthusiastic in terms of presenting things to meetings early on, that maybe he should not have a mother has been criticism from the likes of dominic cummings, the former chief adviser to boris johnson, as prime minister, who has questioned both within and without of the inquiry, whether matt hancock should have kept hisjob. he is scheduled for the best part of a day and a half of evidence, obviously a crucial, key role during the pandemic being the health secretary, until the point that he lost his job over a breach of covid rules. but before that of course we will also have the likes of the former deputy prime minister dominic raab. we heard actually last week that when heard actually last week that when he had to step into the breach to run meetings when borisjohnson became seriously ill with covid, the meetings were run better, more efficiently. so that i am sure will be explored to some x8, too. tomorrow we have michael gove who of course runs the cabinet office, a key role in integrating all sorts of parts of government to ensure smooth running of the way things go across different departments. so, each of them, key people at the heart of government during the time of the pandemic. government during the time of the andemic. ., ~ , ., government during the time of the andemic. ., ~' , ., ., government during the time of the andemic. ., ~ , ., ., ., government during the time of the andemic. ., ~ ., ., pandemic. thank you for that, matt. we can no pandemic. thank you for that, matt. we can go straight _ pandemic. thank you for that, matt. we can go straight to _ pandemic. thank you for that, matt. we can go straight to the _ pandemic. thank you for that, matt. we can go straight to the inquiry - we can go straight to the inquiry now, the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has been sworn in and is about to give his evidence. mi? khan, has been sworn in and is about to give his evidence.— to give his evidence. mp for tooting between 2005 _ to give his evidence. mp for tooting between 2005 and _ to give his evidence. mp for tooting between 2005 and 2016. _ to give his evidence. mp for tooting between 2005 and 2016. that's - to give his evidence. mp for tooting l between 2005 and 2016. that's right. and within _ between 2005 and 2016. that's right. and within that period you understood various ministerial, government roles between 2008 and 2010? _ government roles between 2008 and 2010? �* i: i: government roles between 2008 and 2010? �* z: z: ., if z: government roles between 2008 and 2010? �* :: :: ., ::' :: , ., 2010? between 2007 and 2010, yeah. thank ou 2010? between 2007 and 2010, yeah. thank you and — 2010? between 2007 and 2010, yeah. thank you and then _ 2010? between 2007 and 2010, yeah. thank you and then after _ 2010? between 2007 and 2010, yeah. thank you and then after the - 2010? between 2007 and 2010, yeah. thank you and then after the 2010 - thank you and then after the 2010 election— thank you and then after the 2010 election you had various shadow ministerial roles in opposition until— ministerial roles in opposition until you _ ministerial roles in opposition until you left parliament in 2016, and that— until you left parliament in 2016, and that was the year on which you were _ and that was the year on which you were first _ and that was the year on which you were first elected the mayor of london. — were first elected the mayor of london, and you're currently serving your second — london, and you're currently serving your second term in that post. thai's— your second term in that post. that's right douglas it's obvious from that phrenology that you were the mayor of london throughout the period of the pandemic of the pandemic 2020—2022, and that is of course to be the focus of our questions this morning. before we move to the _ questions this morning. before we move to the events _ questions this morning. before we move to the events of _ questions this morning. before we move to the events of the - questions this morning. before we i move to the events of the pandemic, mr carney, _ move to the events of the pandemic, mr carney, i— move to the events of the pandemic, mr carney, i would like to ask you a few questions about the role of the mayor— few questions about the role of the mayor of— few questions about the role of the mayor of london, the powers, what the job— mayor of london, the powers, what the job entails and so on. and of course, — the job entails and so on. and of course, the _ the job entails and so on. and of course, the mayor of london is the senior— course, the mayor of london is the senior elected politician with territorial responsibility for london. _ territorial responsibility for london, and on our ready reckoner, we think— london, and on our ready reckoner, we think that — london, and on our ready reckoner, we think that there are something like 9 _ we think that there are something like 9 million people within the area _ like 9 million people within the area for— like 9 million people within the area for which you have responsibility, is that right? that's— responsibility, is that right? that's right. in london there are more than 9 million people who live and during the normal working day more than 10 billion come to london as tourists and visitors and workers and so forth. fiend as tourists and visitors and workers and so forth-— and so forth. and using another ratio, that _ and so forth. and using another ratio, that 9 _ and so forth. and using another ratio, that 9 million _ and so forth. and using another ratio, that 9 million people - and so forth. and using another - ratio, that 9 million people equates to something like 13% of the uk population. to something like 1396 of the uk population-— to something like 1396 of the uk population._ let's i to something like 1396 of the uk i population._ let's look population. that's right. let's look at our population. that's right. let's look at your statement _ population. that's right. let's look at your statement at _ population. that's right. let's look at your statement at paragraph - population. that's right. let's look at your statement at paragraph 14| at your statement at paragraph 14 which is on page three, please. it is here that you give us a detailed explanation of the role and powers of the mayor. and we are not going to go into all of that detail but let's just try and summarise the position. as you state here, the powers of the mayor, in fact the mayoralty itself, is established is it not by the greater london authority act of 1999.- it not by the greater london authority act of 1999. that's right. and the act _ authority act of 1999. that's right. and the act creates _ authority act of 1999. that's right. and the act creates and _ authority act of 1999. that's right. and the act creates and then describes the powers of this institution called the greater london authority, which itself is formed of the mayor and the assembly, is that a fair summary? it is, yeah. assembly, is that a fair summary? it is, yeah- mayor— assembly, is that a fair summary? it is, yeah. mayor has, _ assembly, is that a fair summary? it is, yeah. mayor has, as _ assembly, is that a fair summary? it is, yeah. mayor has, as we - assembly, is that a fair summary? it is, yeah. mayor has, as we will - assembly, is that a fair summary? it is, yeah. mayor has, as we will see. is, yeah. mayor has, as we will see in a moment. _ is, yeah. mayor has, as we will see in a moment, some _ is, yeah. mayor has, as we will see in a moment, some strategic - is, yeah. mayor has, as we will see i in a moment, some strategic powers, as well as other duties, and the principal role of the assembly is to hold the mayor to account. correct. if we look hold the mayor to account. correct. if we look at _ hold the mayor to account. correct. if we look at paragraph _ hold the mayor to account. correct. if we look at paragraph 15, - hold the mayor to account. correct. if we look at paragraph 15, and - hold the mayor to account. correct. | if we look at paragraph 15, and then we will go over the page in a moment to paragraph 16, we see that the power under section 30 of the act allows the mayor in the words of your statement to do anything which furthers one of its so—called principal purposes, which are then described as promoting economic development, wealth creation, social development, wealth creation, social develop man or the improvement of the environment in greater london. so, high—level powers, high—level purposes. and then, as you go onto make the point under section 31, that the act under that section expressly prevents the authority, the mayor, from providing any health or social services which could be provided by a london borough council orany provided by a london borough council or any other public body. and just going on to paragraph 16, you make the point that the authority is there for limited to carrying out there for limited to carrying out the functions expressly conferred on it and that it is a strategic authority, quite different from, for example, the local authorities in london who have responsibility for the delivery of services. so, is it then, mr khan, a fair summary that then, mr khan, a fair summary that the role of the mayor is to perform these high—level, strategic functions rather than operational decisions which are more, which are the preserve, in london, of borough councils and other bodies? it is. councils and other bodies? it is, but it brings _ councils and other bodies? it is, but it brings with _ councils and other bodies? it is, but it brings with it _ councils and other bodies? it is, but it brings with it huge - but it brings with it huge convenient powers, so i do work very closely with those authorities that you're talking about. yes. closely with those authorities that you're talking about.— you're talking about. yes, and we will come to _ you're talking about. yes, and we will come to see, _ you're talking about. yes, and we will come to see, in _ you're talking about. yes, and we will come to see, in terms - you're talking about. yes, and we will come to see, in terms of - you're talking about. yes, and we will come to see, in terms of the | will come to see, in terms of the role of the mayors in an emergency that that is a rather good description, it's about convening other people more than actually performing executive functions yourself. performing executive functions ourself. , performing executive functions yourself.- and - performing executive functions yourself.- and if - performing executive functions yourself.- and if we - performing executive functions | yourself.- and if we just yourself. exactly. and if we 'ust think aboutfi yourself. exactly. and if we 'ust think about the i yourself. exactly. and if we 'ust think about the pandemic, h yourself. exactly. and if wejust think about the pandemic, and l yourself. exactly. and if we just i think about the pandemic, and the npis that were adopted during the pandemic, we think, for example, of ordering people to stay at home, closing schools, closing hospitality venues and so on, these were not executive decisions for you to take during that time, where they? titer;r during that time, where they? they weren't. there _ during that time, where they? they weren't. there are _ during that time, where they? they weren't. there are some _ during that time, where they? tie: weren't. there are some pieces of legislation which we welcome too, i'm sure, the civil contingencies act, which states basically that the mayor is the voice of london, and so in civil emergencies he or she has an important role in being that voice, particularly when it comes to message carrying, for londoners to know what to do.— know what to do. china 'ust to be clear, i know what to do. china 'ust to be ceenl i am — know what to do. china 'ust to be clear, i am certainly _ know what to do. china just to be clear, i am certainly going - know what to do. china just to be clear, i am certainly going to - know what to do. china just to be | clear, i am certainly going to come to the civil contingencies act and that sort of facilitative role and you're absolutely right, in your statement, you used the term being the voice of london, butjust to be clear, it is white isn't it that it wasn't actually your role to make those exact if decisions, closing schools... those exact if decisions, closing schools- - -_ those exact if decisions, closing schools. . .- ordering - those exact if decisions, closing - schools. . .- ordering people schools... correct. ordering people to sta at schools... correct. ordering people to stay at home. — schools... correct. ordering people to stay at home, and _ schools... correct. ordering people to stay at home, and all _ schools... correct. ordering people to stay at home, and all that. - to stay at home, and all that. correct. �* , , , ,, to stay at home, and all that. correct. , ,,, i. ,, correct. and as you say, with that in mind, the _ correct. and as you say, with that in mind, the mayor— correct. and as you say, with that in mind, the mayor does - correct. and as you say, with that in mind, the mayor does have - in mind, the mayor does have responsibility is, in an emergency, as what is known as a category one responder under the civil contingency that, that is a point you make, if we look at paragraph 19 of your statement, on page four. that's right, yeah. fiend of your statement, on page four. that's right, yeah.— that's right, yeah. and your statement _ that's right, yeah. and your statement then _ that's right, yeah. and your statement then goes - that's right, yeah. and your statement then goes on - that's right, yeah. and your statement then goes on to l that's right, yeah. and your - statement then goes on to provide some very useful detail about all of the different bodies that were established in order to perform your role and the role of the authority more generally in that civil contingencies context. that's right. and atain, contingencies context. that's right. and again, l'm _ contingencies context. that's right. and again, i'm not— contingencies context. that's right. and again, i'm not going _ contingencies context. that's right. and again, i'm not going to - contingencies context. that's right. and again, i'm not going to go - contingencies context. that's right. and again, i'm not going to go into | and again, i'm not going to go into all that in as much detail as there is in the statement, but shall we try and identify the critical parts of it? and if we go on to paragraph 20, we see there you refer to the gla being a member of something called the london resilience forum. and reading on in that paragraph, this london resilience forum you describe as being the vehicle required by statute to facilitate the co—operation of statutory responders in london. so, it's the high—level body performing that sort of bringing together, facilitative role. and you say in the next sentence that fiona trott across chaired the london resilience forum on your behalf. i think it is right, isn't it, that you have a sort of power or a duty either to chair that forum yourself or to nominate someone to do that, is that the position? someone to do that, is that the osition? , �* , someone to do that, is that the osition? ,, �* , h, someone to do that, is that the osition? ,, �*, ,, ,, , position? that's right, so, fiona is the deputy — position? that's right, so, fiona is the deputy mayor _ position? that's right, so, fiona is the deputy mayor fourie _ position? that's right, so, fiona is| the deputy mayor fourie resilience, and i asked her in 2016 a month after i became mayor to chair the london resilience forum because obviously there is work to do not just in times of civil emergency but in other times as well.— just in times of civil emergency but in other times as well. yeah, so, as we will see. — in other times as well. yeah, so, as we will see, some _ in other times as well. yeah, so, as we will see, some of _ in other times as well. yeah, so, as we will see, some of these - we will see, some of these committees and groups that were operational during the pandemic had existed previously sometimes in peacetime, others were brought into being to perform a specific role during the pandemic, and the london resilience forum was one of those thatis resilience forum was one of those that is always sitting, it is always considering matters, and so, did you considering matters, and so, did you consider through taking over the chairmanship of the london resilience forum during the pandemic or not? this resilience forum during the pandemic or not? �* , , resilience forum during the pandemic or not? a , ,,, resilience forum during the pandemic ornot? m . , or not? as far as the lrf is concerned. _ or not? as far as the lrf is concerned, we _ or not? as far as the lrf is concerned, we appointed i or not? as far as the lrf is concerned, we appointed a| or not? as far as the lrf is - concerned, we appointed a number or not? as far as the lrf is _ concerned, we appointed a number of co—chairs to wo