Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Co-ordinated Response to Covid-19: Devolved Administrations

Wednesday 11 November 2020 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Government and the three devolved Administrations published a joint statement on their collective approach to responding to covid-19 on 25 September.
  • The furlough scheme is available across the UK, regardless of lockdown tiers or restrictions in place.
  • Discussions between all Government Departments and devolved Administrations occur regularly at various levels to ensure mutual understanding and impact assessment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd
Scotland
Context

The Scottish Affairs Committee reported a deteriorating relationship with the main issue being trust. There are concerns over lack of mutual understanding.

Question

What recent steps his Department has taken to help ensure co-ordination between Scotland and the other nations of the UK in response to the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Iain Stewart

An effective response to covid-19 does indeed need to be a co-ordinated response across the UK. On 25 September, the UK Government and the three devolved Administrations published a joint statement on our collective approach to responding to covid-19. There are very regular meetings at both ministerial and officials levels.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address any specific work done by the department to improve awareness of devolution among Whitehall officials.

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Q2 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Economy
Context

Different tier systems and lockdown restrictions are applied across the UK, including Scotland.

Question

What is the Minister's understanding of the application of the furlough scheme in Scotland and the other nations of the UK, given that Scotland is operating under a different tier system and different lockdown restrictions?

Answer from Iain Stewart

The lockdown scheme extends across the UK and is available whether a part of the UK—or a part of each nation within the UK—is in lock- down or not. It is there for everyone.

Answered
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Q3 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd
Scotland
Context

The Scottish Affairs Committee described a deteriorating relationship and lack of mutual understanding between the UK and Scottish Governments.

Question

What work has the Secretary of State undertaken to improve awareness and understanding of devolution among Whitehall officials, so that policy makers have mutual understanding of the impact of decisions on each nation of the UK?

Answer from Iain Stewart

There are very regular discussions between all Government Departments and devolved Administrations at many levels—be that in Health, Transport or Education. I think that there is a widespread understanding of the need to balance UK-wide interventions with allowing local flexibilities where circumstances dictate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide any specific work undertaken by the Secretary of State for improving awareness and understanding.

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Q4 Allan Dorans
Scotland
Context

Concerns about taxpayers' money being used for anti-independence activities.

Question

Will the Minister confirm or deny that taxpayers' money is being used to employ consultants with the sole purpose of producing and promoting negative propaganda to encounter the increasingly successful campaign for Scottish independence? Is that not to the detriment of co-operation between the nations?

Answer from Iain Stewart

Forgive me, Mr Speaker, but I am not quite sure what that has got to do with the response to coronavirus.

Not addressed: The question is not directly answered; instead, it is dismissed as irrelevant to the topic of coronavirus response.

How: Dismissive Language

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Q5 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Scotland
Context

A potential covid vaccine is announced with significant logistical challenges ahead.

Question

What work are the UK and Scottish Governments undertaking together to build an infrastructure that will be able to distribute and administer any future vaccines to everyone?

Answer from Iain Stewart

Referring to his initial comments, I was delighted that President-elect Biden spoke to our Prime Minister ahead of any other European country. The hon. Gentleman's substantial question is a very important one and it illustrates the extent to which the UK Government and the devolved Administrations can and should work together. The vaccine—as he said, we are not quite there yet, but it gives very strong hope—is purchased by the UK Government on behalf of the whole UK. The distribution, the prioritisation of the vaccine will be a matter for the devolved Administrations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific details about joint work for vaccine infrastructure.

How: Irrelevant Praise

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Q6 Ian Murray Lab Edinburgh South
Economy Taxation
Context

Millions of people are not receiving support despite lockdowns continuing.

Question

Will the Scotland Office demand that the Chancellor reconsiders and provides support to those taxpayers left without any help from this Government?

Answer from Iain Stewart

A wide range of support is available for businesses and individuals across the UK, including bounce back loans, tax deferrals, mortgage holidays. In addition, the Chancellor has provided to the Scottish Government unprecedented levels of support, going up by an additional £1 billion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address demanding reconsideration for those left without support.

How: Providing Alternative Schemes

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