Nicola Sturgeon has expressed hope that a UK-wide approach to relaxing COVID-19 restrictions at Christmas will be agreed at a COBRA meeting later.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will chair the meeting with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from 4pm.
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Speaking ahead of the talks, the first minister told the Scottish Parliament: "I will take part in a COBRA meeting today where it is hoped that we will agree a common framework, albeit that some details, for example on the precise definition of household, might differ to reflect the different circumstances in each nation."
She added: "Any easing of restrictions will be temporary, it will be limited and it will be accompanied by advice on the precautions that we should all take to minimise risk."
And Ms Sturgeon warned: "I know everyone has a desire to see loved ones over the festive period.
"However, there is also a very real and a very legitimate anxiety that doing so could put those we love at risk, set back our progress as a country, and result in unnecessary deaths and suffering."
First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Welsh Parliament that he was "very hopeful" of progress at the meeting.
"Whatever additional freedom we're able to offer over the Christmas period will have to be used responsibly by people," he said.
"The fact that a relaxation is possible is not an instruction to go and spend the whole of that period doing risky things."
He said it was "inevitable" that a relaxation of the rules would "drive a rise" in infections.
Ministers are reported to be working on plans for three households and a five-day break, from Christmas Eve to 28 December, subject to agreement among the four nations of the UK.
"We have been clear of our desire to try and agree a four-nations approach which will allow families to meet up over the Christmas period," Boris Johnson's spokesman said.
"We continue to work with the devolved nations to agree a plan to allow families to meet up over Christmas.
"That work is ongoing and there will be a meeting later of COBRA to discuss it."
Facing questions from MPs on the health and social care and science and technology select committees, Matt Hancock said Christmas would not look the same as normal.
Asked if the focus on Christmas could be seen as "unfair" to people who would have loved to have celebrated Eid and Diwali, the health secretary said: "I'm very sensitive to this point, and we did think about it and we engaged and we have discussed it.
"The conclusion that we've come to, which I agree with very strongly, is that Christmas as a national holiday is the biggest national holiday that we have.
"Of course it has particular importance for Christians, but it is an important national holiday for everybody in this country.
"So while of course we considered the impact on those of other faiths, Christmas is a special time for everyone in this country."
If an agreement is reached, the prime minister is expected to set out how families might be able to gather over Christmas later this week.
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Speaking via videolink at a Downing Street news conference on Monday, Mr Johnson said Christmas will be "different" than in previous years, declaring: "Tis the season to be jolly, but also the season to be jolly careful."
He added: "We want to make sure we have a solution for Christmas that everybody can share, understand and respect throughout the whole of the UK."
Addressing MPs in the Commons earlier that day, the PM said families would have to make a "careful judgment" about visiting elderly relatives.
He said COVID-19 is "obviously not going to grant a Christmas truce" and warned that if people "blow it with a big blowout Christmas", the country will pay for it with tougher restrictions heading into 2021.
The PM was speaking as he confirmed the second lockdown will end on 2 December in England and a strengthened tier system will come into force.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2NvdmlkLTE5LWdvdmUtdG8tY2hhaXItbWVldGluZy13aXRoLWRldm9sdmVkLWdvdmVybm1lbnRzLW92ZXItY2hyaXN0bWFzLXJ1bGVzLTEyMTQwODk40gF1aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2NvdmlkLTE5LWdvdmUtdG8tY2hhaXItbWVldGluZy13aXRoLWRldm9sdmVkLWdvdmVybm1lbnRzLW92ZXItY2hyaXN0bWFzLXJ1bGVzLTEyMTQwODk4?oc=5
2020-11-24 15:11:15Z
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