Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: UK-wide Response

Wednesday 2 December 2020 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government and the devolved Administrations continue to work closely to ensure a co-ordinated approach across the United Kingdom.
  • This Government are determined to work together with the Northern Irish Executive and the Irish Government to ensure measures safeguard the health and wellbeing of UK and Irish citizens.
  • We want to ensure that the covid-19 vaccination is rolled out effectively across the whole United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Shailesh Vara Con
NHS
Context

Discussions on co-ordinating a UK-wide approach to managing the pandemic.

Question

What discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on co-ordinating a UK-wide response to the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Robin Walker

The Government and the devolved Administrations continue to work closely together to ensure a co-ordinated approach across the United Kingdom. As set out in our joint statement of 25 September, the UK Government and the devolved Administrations hold a shared commitment to suppressing the virus to the lowest possible level and keeping it there.

Answered
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Q2 Shailesh Vara Con
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

A request to collaborate effectively with both Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive on managing the health crisis.

Question

Coronavirus knows no boundaries, and it is absolutely vital that the UK Government, the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly work together to deal with it. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is absolutely crucial that we have effective co-operation—north-south and east-west—and a co-ordinated approach to dealing with this pandemic?

Answer from Robin Walker

I strongly endorse the words of my hon. Friend. This Government are determined to work together with the Northern Irish Executive and the Irish Government to ensure that measures safeguard the health and wellbeing of UK and Irish citizens. There is an existing memorandum of understanding between the chief medical officers for Northern Ireland and for Ireland, which formalises co-ordination and co-operation between the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to covid-19.

Answered
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Q3 Paul Girvan DUP
NHS Defence Northern Ireland
Context

A request to ensure the rapid and equitable provision of military assistance for vaccine distribution.

Question

With the positive news that the UK will commence covid-19 vaccinations from 14 December, will the Secretary of State commit that if logistical support from Her Majesty's armed forces is required in Northern Ireland, it will be provided speedily and with the same resources as the rest of our nation?

Answer from Robin Walker

We want to ensure that it is rolled out effectively across the whole United Kingdom, and we shall certainly make representations to ensure that that includes Northern Ireland.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The commitment was vague without specifics on timeline or resources

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