Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Co-ordination

Wednesday 9 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department took steps to ensure co-ordination between Scotland and other UK nations on covid-19 response.
  • UK and Scottish Governments work together on a co-ordinated basis to deliver the UK Government's response.
  • Military planners from the Ministry of Defence are available to the Scottish Government to facilitate mass deployment of vaccines.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Scotland
Context

The MP seeks information on recent steps taken by the Department to ensure co-ordination.

Question

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

Answer from David Duguid

An effective response to covid-19 does indeed need to be a co-ordinated response across the whole United Kingdom, informing every aspect of the UK Government's response. For instance, on 24 November, the UK Government and the three devolved Administrations published a joint statement on UK-wide arrangements for the festive season. We are currently working with the devolved Administrations on the deployment of vaccines and community testing across the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details or concrete steps taken to ensure co-ordination beyond general statements.

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Q2 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Scotland
Context

Polls show a majority of Scots want more co-operation between the two governments, yet there are issues with mixed messages.

Question

Why is it that, despite polls showing 68% of Scots want closer collaboration, the UK and Scottish Governments still struggle to work together in a coordinated manner, leading to mixed messages and infighting?

Answer from David Duguid

It is not for me to say what mixed messages the hon. Gentleman might see in the press or get from political parties. The UK Government and all assemblies across the whole UK work together on a co-ordinated basis to deliver not just what has been delivered up to now; there was the excellent news yesterday of the first vaccines being provided across the whole UK—not in one part of the UK or another but across the UK on the same day. Vaccines are an excellent example of that co-operation between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations, and the UK Government are procuring vaccines on behalf of the UK as a whole. The prioritisation of the vaccines is a devolved matter—

Not addressed: Did not address why there are mixed messages or infighting.

How: Changed Subject To Vaccine Deployment

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Q3 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
NHS Scotland
Context

Concerns raised about the botched flu vaccine roll-out this year.

Question

Given the difficulties with distributing the flu vaccine this year, how will the Minister ensure that Scottish Ministers are able to effectively distribute the covid vaccine?

Answer from David Duguid

Local deployment of the vaccines is a devolved matter, but Ministry of Defence Ministers have made military planners available to the Scottish Government to facilitate the complex task of mass deployment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address how previous distribution issues will be avoided for the new vaccine roll-out.

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