SCOTLAND’S Health Secretary has said she “can’t understand” why the UK Government has not held a Cobra meeting on Covid-19 since May 10.
Speaking during the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster this afternoon, Jeane Freeman was asked by MP Pete Wishart whether the four-nation approach to tackling coronavirus was “dead”.
The UK’s four nations entered lockdown together on March 23, but Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland have eased restrictions in different ways at different times.
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Freeman said that the four-nation approach is an “evolving process” and that there has been a lot of engagement with scientists and clinicians between the nations.
However she went on: "The engagement at senior ministerial and political level has not been as consistent as we would wish it to be."
Freeman voiced concern over the lack of Cobra meetings since May 10, since there have been a number of decisions made across the UK since that date.
The MSP also told MPs on the committee that she has had no direct communication with the Scottish Secretary during the pandemic or before besides one evening meeting.
Asked about Scotland’s approach to tackling coronavirus, Freeman told the committee: "Our approach differs from the UK in that we are much more phased and planned in resisting the urge to make announcements between.”
The Scottish Government has previously announced clear dates where lockdown measures may be changed, while UK ministers have been criticised for announcing relaxation of measures in a less organised way.
Last month Boris Johnson announced late on a Saturday night that people in England who are shielding would be able to go outside with one other person, as long as social distancing is followed, despite that group being told earlier that they would have to stay indoors until the end of June.
Jason Leitch and Freeman continue to be quizzed by MPs this afternoon.
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