Delyth Jewell MS accuses Labour Government of “neglecting” shielding group

PLAID Cymru’s Delyth Jewell MS has accused the Welsh Government of “neglecting” those who are shielding after they confirmed that there would not be a food box scheme if another shielding period was required.

A spokesperson for Welsh Government confirmed today that “advice from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales is that shielding will pause on August 16, and the contract for the food box scheme for the shielding group will come to an end on that date.”

Plaid Cymru Shadow Local Government Minister Delyth Jewell MS said the news was “utterly unacceptable” and called it another example of the Welsh Government “neglecting the people who are shielding”.

During the early months of the crisis, 13,000 shielding letters were sent to the wrong addresses.

Later, when shielding advice was changed in June, an announcement was made in the press before letters were sent out to those affected by the decision.

The Welsh Government has previously indicated it was preparing for a second wave and Health minister Vaughan Gething said on Monday he would “not be afraid” of a new coronavirus lockdown if it would help save lives.

Delyth Jewell said,

“This news is utterly unacceptable, and yet another example of the Welsh Government neglecting the people who are shielding.

“Early on in this crisis, 13,000 shielding letters were sent to the wrong addresses, and when shielding advice changed in June, those affected by the decision had to find out from press statements instead of hearing from the government directly.

“This latest development – that food boxes won’t be made available in the event of a second lockdown – will leave many people questioning why the Welsh Government would neglect this group yet again.

“Does the Welsh Government intend to ask local government to provide food boxes instead?  If this is the case, they will need to be clear about where the funding will be coming from.  Throughout the crisis, Local Government has proved that it’s able to deliver food boxes, using local produces.  The Welsh Government must explain why it’s taking this drastic decision now, to the detriment of a group of people that will be in dire need of this support.”