Oral Answers to Questions

Chloe Smith Excerpts

Monday 4th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Virginia Crosbie (Ynys Môn) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to ensure that there is a co-ordinated response to the covid-19 outbreak with the devolved Administrations.

[The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Chloe Smith) [V]]

We have established a Cabinet Committee structure to deal with the health, economic, public sector and international aspects of the covid-19 outbreak on behalf of the whole of the UK. Ministers from the devolved Administrations are regularly invited to participate in those discussions, and do so, in order to ensure the highest level of co-ordination and effective working to tackle this crisis on a UK-wide basis.

[Virginia Crosbie [V]]

I thank the Minister for her response. Can she assure me that the level of co-operation will continue to ensure that north Wales and Ynys Môn are equipped with enough PPE provision for our struggling care homes and vital testing centres? Can she also assure me that there will be a UK-wide approach to the easing of restrictions, and an application of the five tests?

[Chloe Smith]

I hope I can give my hon. Friend such reassurance. I am particularly grateful to the devolved Administrations, and in this case the Welsh Government, for their co-operation, and we will continue to work with them in responding to the pandemic. That is in the interests of all our citizens. We respect the competence of the devolved Administrations in issues such as health and, where appropriate, we will seek a four-nations approach.

[Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)]

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to prevent false information on covid-19 spreading online.

[The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Chloe Smith) [V]]

Misleading information about coronavirus, whether it is maliciously intended or not, could cost lives. The work to tackle false information is led by our colleagues in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport across all of Government. We are also working closely with social media platforms to help them to remove dangerous incorrect claims about the virus and promoting steps that everyone can take to reduce the spread of false information.

[Adam Afriyie [V]]

[Inaudible.]