The government has conducted a secret “lessons learned” review on the Covid pandemic but is refusing to publish it, Downing Street has admitted. Asked about the existence of such an internal review, the spokesman said: “What you are referring to is an informal, not public-facing work. If the Information Commissioner rules in favour of disclosure, the “lessons learned” – including any details of policy mistakes made by ministers or officials – could exposed before the statutory inquiry begins. Health secretary Matt Hancock has repeatedly said that the department has already “learned lessons” as it has gone along. Downing Street declined to say whether the public inquiry will report back before the next general election - which could be as early as 2023.

Source: Huffington Post May 12, 2021 13:13 UTC