During today’s virtual Plenary Meeting of the Welsh Parliament, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood called on the First Minister to address Wrexham Glyndŵr University’s concerns that staff and students from across the nearby border with England may be anxious about being in breach of lockdown rules given the difference in the lifting of lockdown restrictions between Wales and England.

Given that a considerable number of the students and staff at the University come from across the border, and that students resident in Wales complete placements in England, Mr Isherwood called on the First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS, to provide clarity to the University over the current divergence between Wales and England at this early stage of emerging from lockdown.  

Speaking via ‘Zoom’ from his home in North Wales, he said:

“How do you respond to the following, which Wrexham Glyndŵr University has asked me to raise here? With substantial numbers of staff and students from across the nearby border with England, they are concerned about the current divergence at this early stage of emerging from lockdown, and the confusion this may cause if it persists into later stages. How will they be able to communicate clearly to staff and students who may be anxious about being in breach?”

In his response, the First Minister said he would be “very pleased to recruit and co-opt them into the efforts that we make as a Welsh Government to make clear what the rules are here in Wales.”

Mr Isherwood added:

“I am pleased that the First Minister is open to working with the University over this. As the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Glyndŵr University, Professor Maria Hinfelaar, said, ‘My university is situated at a stone’s throw from the border with England, and substantial numbers of staff and students are from across the border’.

“With staff and students commuting to and from places which fall under different rules, it is vital that the First Minister clears this current confusion.”