So at Friday’s press conference I asked about where we are on this chart - this slide showing us moving from 4 to 3 on the “Covid Alert System” assessed by the “Joint Biosecurity Centre” was edited by Number 10 in to the middle of the PM’s address to the nation on May 10th...

Foreign Secretary just told Sophy Ridge that “we are transitioning from 4 to 3...” but that wasn’t the answer I got on Friday, despite specifically asking whether we are at 4 or 3 or somewhere between 3 and 4... Government’s plan asserts JBC responsible for setting alert level

On a few occasions at the press conference since a slide clearly showing the Covid Alert level at 4, along with words such as “we are beginning careful steps to take us to level 3”...
Lobby was told we were at 4 on Friday... https://twitter.com/10downingstreet/status/1261692212905218050?s=21

Separately the DHSC has published this on the “Risk Level”

“The risk to the UK has been raised to high” which though it seems consistent the Covid Alert level being at 4, is a different thing which has been set since March, and reaffirmed yesterday at this level.

Foreign Secretary is now making “transition” point to Marr...

Point here is - that Joint Biosecurity Centre was supposed independently and objectively to assess whether the level is “4” or “3” as the determining factor as to whether there should be 4 or 3 - “gradual relaxing”

From the Government’s published “Our plan to rebuild” 11/5/20:

Step Two adjustments (eg partial school opening)
“MUST be warranted by the current alert level”...

Second step “no earlier” than June 1 subject to these conditions being satisfied...

“I know that we can use this plan to get us through the next.
And if we can’t do it by those dates, and IF the alert level won’t allow it, we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right...”

- the PM at his address 10/5 to the nation introducing the Covid Alert Level...

“if the alert level allows it” reasonably seen at time as ref to alert level being lowered to 3, which it was not, and has not been, *despite the PM replying to @Simon4NDorset Cummings question at Liaison Comm Wednesday: they would meet Thursday to decide a move to Level 3:

So pretty clear that alongside self assessment of the “5 tests”, planned June 1st move [“no earlier”] to Step 2 easing schools etc was conditional on Covid Alert level “allowing it”, and PM linked that to meaning lower to 3, which didn’t then happen, despite planned meeting...

...questions:

Why havent Government published to public its Covid Alert level?

What was decided at meeting to consider Alert Level held Thursday, as indicated by PM on Wednesday and who decided?

Are “Step 2” easing policy dates (eg Jun 1) no longer conditional on Alert level?

important point - did the Joint Biosecurity Centre consider the case for a move to Alert level 3 and decide against it...?

Also following on from what Powis said it me, and Raab to Marr: is the JBC actually functioning now, or is it under development? https://twitter.com/dr_d_robertson/status/1267032838018338817?s=21