Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd March 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bethell]

I reassure the noble Lord that the four CMOs from all parts of Britain have worked extremely closely and that their decision-making has been done on a joint basis. Work on a possible Bill has also been run past the Executives and Assemblies of all the nations; there is extremely close collaboration between all parts of Britain.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. Throughout this transitional phase, are the Government still availing themselves of the medical expertise in the respiratory field that is available through the European reference networks?

[Lord Bethell]

The noble Baroness is more of an expert on those networks than I am. All I can say is that we are going about this epidemic by focusing on all our strong relationships to make the most of everyone we know. We are throwing ourselves into every opportunity we have with gusto.