Whitty told the inquiry that neither he nor Vallance “can recall” being asked about the policy, while Maclean said that she didn’t know “about any scientific advice that went into [Eat Out to Help Out]” – and went so far as to say she would have advised against it had she been consulted.
Sunak told the inquiry on Monday that Eat Out to Help Out was not run past scientists because it was a “micropolicy” that was “no different” from other guideline changes that had already been discussed with scientists.
Confirming he had not consulted, Sunak asked: “Why would I raise it as a risk when I didn’t believe that it was because it was designed in the context of a safe re-opening?”
He added that it had been “designed specifically in the context of the safe lifting of NPIs [non-pharmaceutical interventions] that had already been signed off… which had reopened indoor hospitality,” and that he believed it was an economic decision to save jobs that didn't need input from scientists.
Sunak should come back to the House and correct the record, shadow minister for international trade Gareth Thomas MP told openDemocracy.
“Rishi Sunak has serious questions to answer about the differences between his answers to questions in the House of Commons and his answers to the Covid inquiry,” said Thomas.
“It’s now obvious that the prime minister was not clear in the House of Commons about not consulting with senior health and science advisers before launching Eat Out to Help Out.
“As a minimum Rishi Sunak should come back to the House of Commons to apologise and correct the record.”
According to Parliamentary procedure, “the Commons may treat the making of a deliberately misleading statement as a contempt”.
Number 10 declined to comment but directed us to Sunak's statements at the inquiry.
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