Matt Hancock is among the senior politicians to be grilled next week at the Covid Inquiry.
The former Health Secretary, who earlier this month was accused of wanting to decide who lived or died if the NHS couldn't cope during the crisis, is scheduled to appear over two days. His senior colleagues in Government during the pandemic - Deputy PM Dominic Raab and the Cabinet minister Michael Gove - have also been summoned to appear next week.
Earlier this month, the former boss of NHS England Sir Simon Stevens said the then-Health Secretary “took the position that in this situation he, rather than the medical profession, should decide who should live and who should die” if hospitals became overwhelmed in the Covid crisis.
Sir Simon added in his own evidence to the Inquiry: “Fortunately, this horrible dilemma never crystallised.” Others to appear next week include the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Bunrham, and the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram. During the crisis Mr Bunham - a former Labour Cabinet minister - savaged the Government for "playing poker with people's lives" over financial support.
Mr Hancock, who lost his job as Health Secretary in 2021 after breaching his own rules previously appeared at the first phase of the Inquiry in June. He admitted there had been "serious and significant inadequacy in preparation for a pandemic health emergency" and said there was a "huge error".
The ex-Health Secretary is set to be questioned on the government's decision making during the pandemic after scientists gave damning evidence this week. Sir Patrick Vallance, who was the Chief Scientific Adviser until this year, shared private diaries with the probe on Monday detailing his daily notes about the battle with the virus.
Extracts claimed ministers were reluctant to impose a second national lockdown, with former Tory leader Boris Johnson arguing for "letting it all rip". He also noted that Dominic Cummings - Mr Johnson's former chief adviser - had claimed Rishi Sunak believed ministers should "just let people die and that's okay".
No10 declined to comment on the claims while the Inquiry is ongoing. It is widely expected the PM will appear in front of the committee alongside his predecessor Mr Johnson before Christmas.