Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Looking to the future, Ministers must outline, in response to this report, their plans for...
Recommendation
Looking to the future, Ministers must outline, in response to this report, their plans for the coronavirus Cabinet Committees, [Covid-19 Operations Committee and COVID-19 Strategy Committee] and how those Committees will incorporate the priorities of the devolved nations. In view of the previous Scottish Affairs Committee’s report on intergovernmental relations, the Government must now commit to the following: (Paragraph 61) • That key decision-makers in devolved nations hold permanent seats on the COVID-19 Cabinet Committees; (Paragraph 61.i)) • That the COVID-19 Committees be staffed by officials with a deep understanding of all four nations of the UK. In particular, the secretariat must include officials from the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales and the Northern Ireland Office, as well as representatives of the Scottish Government (and other nations including Wales and Northern Ireland); and (Paragraph 61.ii)) • That formal mechanisms will exist to guarantee intergovernmental communications, including formal meetings between Ministers in devolved nations; officials in devolved nations; advisory services in devolved nations. (Paragraph 61.iii)) Coronavirus and Scotland: Interim Report on Intergovernmental Working 33
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The report on Exercise Cygnus is available here. Exercise Cygnus identified 22 recommendations (or lessons in the terminology of the report) which were all accepted by the UK Government. For example, lesson 4 recommended that meetings of the four Health Ministers and of the CMOs should be best practice and included as part of the response “battle rhythm”. As discussed above, this is exactly what has happened, and is continuing to happen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK Government has always been clear that there will be opportunities to look back, analyse, and reflect on all aspects of COVID-19. As the Prime Minister has said, this will include an independent inquiry at the appropriate time. For now, the UK Government is focused entirely on responding to the pandemic and saving lives, particularly as the UK is experiencing a second wave of the virus. The UK Government notes the Scottish Affairs Committee’s recommendation as to the independent inquiry’s eventual terms of reference. It would be premature to respond to the detail of the recommendation at this stage. We will consider the Committee’s views at the right time for decisions as to the inquiry’s terms of reference, and respond further to the Committee in due course. Preparedness for future public health emergencies in Scotland are primarily devolved matters for the Scottish Government, but the UK Government has consistently sought to work with the DAs on preparing for and responding to public health emergencies as has been shown by, for instance, the response to the H1N1 virus (swine flu) in 2009 and preparations for pandemic influenza following Exercise Cygnus.