Boris Johnson has confirmed an independent inquiry into the UK's handling of the coronavirus pandemic will go ahead - but not now.
Addressing MPs at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, he said: "I do not believe that now, in the middle of combating a pandemic, is the right moment to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry.
"But of course we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future and certainly, we will have an independent inquiry into what happened."
The Prime Minister was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat Sir Edward Davey, who said: "Previously he's refused my demand for an immediate independent inquiry, saying it's too soon, even thought back in 2003 he voted for an independent inquiry into the Iraq war just months after conflict had started.
"If he still rejects an immediate inquiry, instead will he commit, in principle, to a future public inquiry? Yes or no."
Mr Johnson confirmed an inquiry will take place, but he gave no indication of when it will go ahead.
It comes after MPs launched an immediate probe earlier this week into the Government's response to the pandemic.
The formal inquiry will see a cross-party committee of ministers - named the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus (APPG) - take evidence from bereaved families, health experts, professional bodies and the public.
Their conclusions and recommendations are set to be released by the end of the summer.
The APPG is chaired by Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, with vice-chairs from the Conservatives, Labour, the SNP, Green Party and Plaid Cymru.
"From the neglect of care homes to the lack of an effective testing regime, each day brings more evidence of mistakes in the handling of this pandemic – and there is every indication that we will see a potential second spike this winter," Ms Moran said.
"The country and the NHS cannot afford for these errors to be repeated. There is no time to waste when it comes to learning the lessons from the UK response to the pandemic.
"This is why we are launching our parliamentary inquiry and will be taking evidence immediately."
Conservative MP and APPG vice-chairman Dan Poulter added: "It is important that we learn lessons about what things we can do better ahead of the difficult winter months that lie ahead."
