THE UK Covid Inquiry is to sit in Scotland for the first time on Tuesday with the investigation due to take place over three weeks.
Ministers and a number of other key figures are to be questioned on their handling of the pandemic.
Here’s what you need to know.
Who will be giving evidence?
Over the next few weeks, a number of senior figures are expected to give evidence to the inquiry.
This includes former first minister Nicola Sturgeon (below), former health minister Jeane Freeman and national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch.
It marks the first time the hearings have taken place outside of London since it first started in August 2022.
How many sessions will there be?
A total of 12 sessions will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) between January 16 and February 1.
It comes after almost four years since March 20 2020 – the day schools shut down and pubs and restaurants were ordered to close due to the risk of spreading the Covid virus.
Who has already been questioned?
A number of senior UK Government officials were already questioned with the inquiry first beginning on June 28 2022.
READ MORE: Scottish independence: Alba challenge SNP to back referendum bill
Although Scottish officials have yet to give evidence, Scotland was referenced a number of times during hearings with UK Government figures.
Boris Johnson was among those to take aim at the Scottish Government within minutes of his appearance while ex-health secretary Matt Hancock accused Sturgeon of “spin” and “confusing” the public during the pandemic.
Can I watch the inquiry?
The hearings are all broadcast on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s website.
The first hearing at the EICC gets underway today and will be broadcast live HERE.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here