6. Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:03 pm on 13 May 2020.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 6:03, 13 May 2020

Thank you. Well, I certainly don't think people in Wales have to have a complicated system; we in Wales did a very straightforward system. You don't have to register in the way that you have to do in England, and I've met with the supermarkets on regular occasions over the last six to seven weeks; I last met with them a week today, and I think our online slots are working very well now. There were certainly some concerns in the beginning, but once the system was up and running, we managed to iron out, I think, those difficulties, and I pay tribute to the supermarkets, and to all the retail staff, who've made sure that we've been able to feed the nation. 

Even last week, when another 21,000 people went on to the shielded list here in Wales, the information about those people was with the supermarkets straight away, and the supermarkets confirmed that to me. And even in small numbers, if a GP decided to add a patient to the shielded list themselves—which, of course, they were able to do; it wasn't just the chief medical officer—the data on that person went to the supermarkets straight away. So, I don't think, in Wales, we've had a complex system. There were certainly teething difficulties, which were ironed out very quickly. 

So, a co-ordinated scheme across the UK was something that we looked at. The UK Government decided that they wanted an England scheme. As I say, it's very different to ours, but I think, in Wales now, we've got it right. And, along with the supermarket slots, and the food delivery boxes, to which I referred in my answers to Helen Mary Jones, I think we've made every effort. And again, I give credit to so many people who've made sure that we've had a robust system, particularly our local authorities, who've worked very closely with us on the delivery boxes.