Oral Answers to Questions

David Duguid Excerpts

Tuesday 12th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Dr Jamie Wallis (Bridgend) (Con)]

What support his Department has provided in tackling the covid-19 outbreak.

[David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con)]

What support his Department has provided in tackling the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ben Wallace)]

On any given day, up to 4,000 men and women of the armed forces support the Government’s response to covid.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Duguid [V]]

I welcome the intervention of the Ministry of Defence in supporting the covid-19 testing capacity across the whole UK, but can my right hon. Friend tell me what discussions he has had with the Department of Health and Social Care and the devolved Administrations on the effectiveness of those MOD testing facilities, and will he meet me, at least virtually, to discuss specific issues that we have had recently in Peterhead in my own constituency?

[Mr Wallace]

Mobile testing is a capability developed between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Defence under DHSC direction. NHS Scotland decides on the location to which each mobile testing unit will be deployed in Scotland. Peterhead, to which my hon. Friend refers, was an isolated incident in which the opening of the site was delayed due to capacity issues with central laboratories. Unfortunately, the site incorrectly remained open on the digital booking portal for a few hours longer. Such bookings were accepted when the site opened on 4 May. I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss further the use and deployment of mobile facilities throughout Scotland.