[ad_1]
Every day the UK government holds a briefing on the latest situation with the coronavirus pandemic, but how it applies to Wales is not always so clear cut.
Many have been confused as to which announcements made by ministers affect the whole of the UK, or just England.
Our readers have expressed concern when UK government ministers make promises on decentralized issues like testing, schools or volunteering that do not apply in Wales, but this is not always clarified during press conferences.
WalesOnline challenged Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on this issue at the UK government briefing at 5pm on Tuesday.
Political editor Will Hayward asked Raab via video link if he “would make the distinction about what problems will apply only to England in the future.”
(Image: PA)
A second question asked by our journalist covered whether the Welsh data was taken into account during key decision-making related to the blockade.
Some people in Wales seem to feel that the responses provided by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean, who joined him for the briefing, did not elicit a complete answer.
Read the full transcript below:
Will Hayward: “Viewing these press conferences for the past six weeks has been very confusing for many people in Wales. Some of the language you use makes it very clear if what is said applies to them due to the return. Clearly, foreign affairs like repatriation However, the commonly mentioned issues around schools, local government, support for vulnerable people, medical care and even the closing rules themselves do not apply to people in Wales.
“Do you acknowledge that the government could have been clearer so far, and you and your ministerial colleagues will commit to making the distinction about what problems will apply only to England in the future?”
Dominic Raab: “Well Will, all I would say is that, in the absence of the Prime Minister, I have chaired two of the COBRAs and been to several others. I must say that we have had good cooperation with all delegated administrations, including the Prime Minister in Wales .
“If you look in practice at social distancing measures, and I talked a little bit earlier in this press conference about the level of compliance, it’s been remarkably consistent across nations, so we’ve been pretty much locked in – I spend the entire road.
“I think the right thing is to proceed consistently, respecting the constitutional agreement, of course, and that is what we have done so far and that is one of the reasons why we have been so effective.”
“So I think we can come together as a single united kingdom and see ourselves sustainably through this crisis.”
Will Hayward: “What I was saying was so much about the language at these press conferences for people in Wales that naturally they might not be so well versed in every little detail about the return.
“The Prime Minister of Wales has expressed his wish that Wales and England emerge from the confinement together to simplify the message.
“How can Wales participate in the announcements on the blockade that we expect this weekend and next week? And, just for Professor McClean if I can, does SAGE take into account the Welsh data and the impact on Wales when offering advice to the NHS? England and have there been marked differences between Wales and England? “
(Image: PA)
Dominic Raab: “So just in terms of formal structures, it is really important that we try to make sure that there is early, consistent and continuous cooperation and consultation. We do this through the Welsh Office, Michael Gove and the Cabinet Office are doing it and those COBRA meetings that I discussed that bring together the four nations of the United Kingdom.
“And in reality, we are flexible, we are pragmatic, we are not insisting on the form on the substance, but in reality if you look at the substance, I will return to the consistent record of compliance with social distancing measures.”
“We have done a good job working together, so I think the key is that there is the political will on all sides to continue that, and I hope and I am sure there will be.”
Professor Lady Angela McLean: “So in science we work very hard to include all four nations. Sometimes there are data streams that we only have for England at the moment, but we try to make it clear to our colleagues why we think they are incredibly useful and, for So why would it be great if we could have them from other countries.
“At SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), if we think about Wales, I promise.”
We’ll provide you with live updates on the latest coronavirus briefings in Wales and England as they happen every day, which you can follow here.
[ad_2]
