Covid-19

We need these long-term solutions and, like other liberal democracies around the world, we are wrestling with this question—as we have wrestled with it in the last few minutes—of how to keep people safe from the virus while protecting other important things in life: our liberties, our livelihoods and the things that we love. That is what leads us to the strategy of suppressing the virus and supporting the economy, education and the NHS.

I just wonder whether one problem we have at the moment is that we do not have enough capacity in the whole of the NHS to take on covid in a long-term way, as the Secretary of State suggests, and still be able to do all the things that we really need to do. How can we ramp up that capacity so that we are still treating people for cancer, for brain injury and for all the other things that we all care about?

The Secretary of State has answered my question in part with the importance of green and red. One of the big problems in the first wave is that people were frightened, even if they feared that they had cancer or some other condition, to go into the hospitals, and we have to reassure them that they can go there and they can be safe.

Of course this is a dangerous disease and, of course, cases are rising, including in my own area, so it is with some humility that I have a look at the daily excess all-cause deaths in all ages in England, which show that there has been no significant excess all-cause mortality observed in week 40 overall. Is it not the case that the good news in this second wave is that the disease is not progressing as it did in the first?

On that point, many of my constituents were frightened to go to hospital because they thought that they might get infected with covid. With that in mind—I am quite sure my right hon. Friend has thought of this—would it not be an idea to separate out hospitals, so that we have a covid centre of excellence, say using the Nightingale hospitals, where everyone goes, and then the normal hospitals that deal with everything else?

When my right hon. Friend came to the Health and Social Care Committee a few weeks ago, he talked about long covid and the fact that clinics were being set up to deal with it. Will he give the House an update on where that has got to?

To enable us to get a picture, could the Secretary of State tell us what percentage of people up to 25 suffer from the condition? I am sorry to press the point, but it is a question of roughly what percentage is affected; not of those who contract the disease, but of the overall cohort.

I thank the Secretary of State for the ongoing dialogue with me as a Warrington MP and with my colleagues in Warrington. I was particularly concerned this morning after having seen Public Health England data about the rapid rise in the infection rate among the over-60s in Warrington. Could he say a little more about that information?

The Speaker called the shadow Secretary of State to order and imposed a five-minute time limit on Back-Bench contributions.

Mr Ashworth discussed the current situation in Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire, noting that these areas are likely to be placed under tier 3 lockdown restrictions due to high infection rates. He emphasised the need for clarity from the Government on how these areas will be reviewed and whether restrictions will be lifted based on regional or national R values. He also highlighted Leicester's experience with long-term lockdown measures and expressed scepticism about their effectiveness, citing rising infection rates despite initial success in reducing them. Mr Ashworth further pointed out that the current approach risks worsening health inequalities and urged for decisive action to prevent a surge in deaths and hospital admissions. He criticised the Test and Trace system's inefficiencies and called for local public health teams to take charge of it instead of private outsourcing firms.

Expressed strong support for the Secretary of State and gratitude towards health facilities in his constituency. Advocated for closer collaboration between MPs, local authorities, and Mayors to tackle the pandemic effectively. Highlighted the excellent work done by public health authorities and politicians across political lines in the West Midlands. Suggested a balance should be struck between protecting public health and supporting economic activities, emphasising the need for flexibility in restrictions, particularly for sectors like events and exhibitions and weddings. Criticised overly strict measures that affect young people’s lives severely, advocating for a more balanced approach towards curfews and lockdowns. Raised concerns about mental health issues arising from the pandemic.

Acknowledges the Government's difficult position and praises some pandemic response measures, such as furloughing. Highlights gaps in support for specific groups, particularly wholesalers who did not receive adequate responses despite their efforts during the pandemic. Criticises the quality of parliamentary responses to inquiries regarding these issues. Raises concerns about workers at DWP service centres being forced into the office despite public guidance encouraging remote work, and expresses fears over potential punishment if they speak out against unsafe conditions.

Acknowledges Anne McLaughlin's speech and announces a reduction in speaking time due to the number of speakers. Announces a full day debate on covid-19 scheduled for Monday 2 November.

Evans welcomed the tiered approach to tackling the virus, praised new measures by the Treasury and the Chancellor that address business concerns like moving from Tier 1 to Tier 2. He highlighted the need for certainty about the future roadmap for industries such as weddings, events, conferences, and travel. Evans also mentioned the importance of non-fiscal measures, such as changing use permissions or extending licensing to aid businesses in innovation. Additionally, he praised efforts towards improved testing like laminar flow testing and emphasised the necessity of basic preventive measures like hand washing, face coverings, and social distancing until a vaccine is available.

Fletcher discussed the growing mental health epidemic due to the pandemic. She highlighted issues such as working from home, shielding, furlough, self-isolation, school closures, mask-wearing, lack of physical contact with family and friends, loss of income, poor housing, and frontline service work, which all exacerbate existing mental health conditions or trigger new ones. Fletcher stressed the need for increased investment in mental health services during and after the pandemic to prevent worsening mental health problems.

Swayne questioned whether the measures taken against covid-19 are worth the economic and social costs, arguing that a generation's life chances are being marred by restrictions. He criticised over-reporting of deaths as covid deaths and highlighted issues with PCR testing limitations and panic-inducing large numbers. Swayne welcomed the Prime Minister’s move towards reconsidering lockdown measures but warned against continued adherence to policies that could lead to societal self-harm.

Mr. Spencer supported current restrictions but called for a 'Plan B' that allows individuals to make decisions based on their own health risks, with targeted testing and support for those at high risk while allowing low-risk individuals more freedom.

The Chancellor's statement fails to address the chronic underfunding of social care, which led to a system ill-prepared for the pandemic. According to Age UK and Lord Forsyth’s report, the social care system needs around £14 billion to return to pre-austerity levels. The Government has neglected social care during the crisis, leading to widespread problems and a risk of collapse. Despite calls for reform, no substantial policy changes have been implemented.

The lockdowns have had significant impacts on healthcare services, with 20,000 fewer referrals from GPs to hospitals in Bolton alone. This is a serious issue that could lead to life-threatening situations for many constituents. The Government's response has been inadequate and non-committal, failing to provide detailed assessments or solutions.

In West Ham, the pandemic has led to economic hardship with thousands on furlough or self-employed facing potential job loss. The area's low-income families are at risk of homelessness and cutting essential expenses like food and clothing. Before the pandemic, nearly 20,000 children were in poverty; this number is expected to rise further without adequate support. Schools have lost around 575 days since March, with only 8% of children with special needs attending during lockdowns, raising concerns about child welfare and protection.

Benton expressed gratitude towards the residents of Blackpool for their sacrifices during the pandemic, highlighting lower infection rates in his constituency compared to Lancashire. He raised concerns over increased restrictions impacting hospitality businesses negatively, particularly during the half-term period. Benton welcomed additional government measures but urged further support for small hotels and B&Bs by allowing them to access grants and job support schemes voluntarily. He also criticised arbitrary decisions made without clear evidence, such as closing betting shops in tier 3.

Colburn acknowledged the dedication of health and social care staff in his constituency during the pandemic, praising St Helier Hospital for its efforts. He thanked local community pharmacists for their hard work and advocated for better use of their advisory capacity to relieve pressure on GPs. Colburn also highlighted the role of the voluntary sector in Carshalton and Wallington and expressed hope that a balance can be found between protecting health and the economy as tier 2 restrictions are imposed.

Onwurah criticised the Government's handling of the pandemic, emphasising the need for a circuit breaker now and a roadmap to control the virus. She highlighted failures in tracking community infections due to government policy changes, austerity measures, reliance on technology over human resources, and ideological stances. Onwurah also expressed concern about mass unemployment re-emerging in Newcastle and urged the Government to work effectively with local authorities to ensure support for businesses and viable sectors.

Launched High Peak hero awards to recognise local efforts during the pandemic. Welcomed Chancellor's additional measures for businesses under tier 2 restrictions but expressed concern over impacts on mental health and screening services like breast cancer screening units in his constituency. Emphasised the need for a multifaceted approach, including increasing NHS capacity and campaigning for new urgent care centres.

Critiqued the Great Barrington declaration as dangerous fake science proposed by fringe supporters. Highlighted that the majority of medical professionals dismiss this approach, pointing out significant flaws including lack of evidence for herd immunity and moral implications. Provided statistics showing higher death rates due to covid-19 compared to influenza in recent years.

The speaker expressed concern about the severe lockdown measures in prisons and their detrimental effects on prisoners' mental and physical health. She highlighted that around 10,000 children each week had prison visits before covid but are now cut off from seeing their parents due to stringent restrictions. She also mentioned the lack of access to essential facilities like libraries and gyms for prisoners.

The speaker focused on the mental health impacts of the pandemic, particularly among those excluded from financial support and unpaid carers. She urged the Minister to provide additional mental health services for self-employed individuals who have been financially impacted by the pandemic. The speaker also highlighted the struggle of unpaid carers due to increased responsibilities during lockdown and called for better access to respite care and testing for day centres.

The speaker criticised the Government's approach to managing the pandemic, arguing that total or partial lockdowns are oppressive and unconservative. He cited examples of individuals in his constituency who have been adversely affected by restrictions on economic activity. The speaker also questioned the government's refusal to differentiate between those immune to covid-19 and others, suggesting a more liberal approach similar to Sweden.

Welcomes the debate on covid-19 and highlights the impact of the pandemic in Stockport and Greater Manchester. Acknowledges the efforts of local authorities and council workers in distributing grants to businesses, emphasising the challenges faced by the hospitality sector with recommendations from Unite's rescue plan including extending the job retention scheme and providing better working conditions and support for hospitality workers. Criticises the Test and Trace system as a national disgrace, urging additional resources for door-to-door testing and personal protective equipment for frontline staff. Raises concerns about delays in rolling out weekly testing of care home residents and staff, emphasising the need for immediate plans to support unpaid carers across the country.

Tributes health and social care workers, education and childcare workers, those in the food supply chain, local government, civil servants, utility workers, and food bank workers. Criticises the Government's lack of control over the pandemic and their handling of tier restrictions, particularly in comparison to London. Highlights wasted money on PPE contracts and track-and-trace system, advocating for a national circuit breaker strategy. Critiques the new job support scheme as insufficient, urging for an extension of the furlough scheme across the country.

Mr. Smith underlined the urgent need for a plan B if the vaccine is not successful, pointing out that prolonged restrictions are causing severe economic and personal harm to citizens. He cited real-life examples of constituents who have suffered significant losses in business, relationships, health due to misdiagnoses, and mental well-being.

Ms. Allin-Khan criticised the Government's strategy as ineffective, noting a lack of clarity on exiting tier 3 restrictions and increasing infection rates. She highlighted significant impacts across various sectors including healthcare, education, hospitality, and mental health services. She called for a national circuit breaker to save lives and ease pressure on front-line workers.

Paid tribute to NHS workers, social care staff and volunteers for their hard work during the pandemic. Stressed the importance of public compliance with social distancing measures in protecting the NHS. Mentioned delivering over 4.2 billion items of PPE since last February. Discussed the need to answer points raised by other MPs, specifically mentioning the hon. Member for Twickenham and the hon. Member for Rhondda.

Called out the Minister for addressing other Members as 'you' instead of using formal titles such as 'the hon. Gentleman'.