Covid-19: Road Map

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Will the Prime Minister confirm that the chief medical officer supports full reopening of schools on 8 March? Will he commit to publishing all relevant medical evidence on this issue?

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What is the Prime Minister doing to address logistical challenges for school reopening? Is there any update on Nightingale classrooms?

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How will the Prime Minister ensure better vaccination support for teachers and school staff?

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Will the Prime Minister consider extending isolation support to more workers to ensure proper compliance with self-isolation rules?

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What additional economic support will be provided to businesses and self-employed individuals beyond mid-April?

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Expressed concerns about previous government approaches towards easing lockdowns, emphasising the need for caution this time around. Asked for confirmation on medical support for reopening schools on March 8th, requested additional logistics support, called for faster vaccination of teachers and staff, raised issues with self-isolation support rates and economic impacts, questioned why immediate economic support measures weren't announced alongside the roadmap, highlighted the lack of support for self-employed individuals.

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Welcomed the statement but raised concerns about the aviation industry needing more certainty for summer planning, asking for the taskforce report deadline to be brought forward.

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The success of the vaccine roll-out has led to hope that an end to lockdown is in sight. However, new international variants pose a significant threat, which requires stronger quarantine measures for all international travellers as per Scotland's approach.

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In the face of caution due to new variants, will he recognise the brilliant work of health and care staff by building back better for them in next week’s Budget?

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When will everyone with a learning disability have been offered their first jab, as they have died at rates more than three and half times those for the rest of the population?

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The hospitality sector, a big employer of the poorest in society, is talking about closing. Will he review again the nature of opening up inside those restaurants and pubs?

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Workers across the UK still face a choice between self-isolating with loss of earnings or going to work risking spreading the virus. Will he commit to raising and expanding statutory sick pay?

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Can he confirm that his key scientific advisers now accept a practical vaccine-based method of controlling covid?

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There is a lack of sufficient financial support for self-isolation and the High Court’s ruling on publishing covid contracts. Will he respond seriously to these issues?

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Thanking the medics and volunteers for their hard work in vaccinating over 87,000 people in Wakefield clinical commissioning group area alone, the MP asks about steps taken to encourage ethnic minority groups to receive the vaccine when offered.

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Critiques the lack of transparency regarding NHS contracts awarded without tender, stressing concerns over job losses and economic impact on constituents. Requests an end to privatisation of the NHS.

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Questions whether measures will be put in place to keep schools open without further disruption once all reopen on 8 March.

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Inquires about supply issues and confirms that there is no adverse impact on first vaccines for informal carers of those who are shielding.

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Asks how the Government plans to minimise threat of another lockdown through improvements such as track, trace and isolate operation, testing capacity and other measures.

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Raises concerns over accountability of public money usage and the legality of NHS contracts being signed without proper publication.

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Asks for assurance on providing enough time and operating data for businesses post-lockdown.

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Questions support from chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser regarding full school reopening on 8 March and importance of vaccinating staff.

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Emphasises importance of businesses needing certainty in planning, asking whether we should proceed sequentially as fast as possible.

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Inquires about transparency around NHS contracts, suggesting an end to emergency procurement powers and reintroduction of tendering process.

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It is brilliant news that we have now vaccinated one in three adults in the UK—it is a huge testament to British science; to the NHS; to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my right hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Matt Hancock) and his whole team; and to everybody involved in the vaccination programme, not least my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister agree that because of his swift roll-out of the vaccine programme, we are now in a much stronger position to start to ease restrictions and put ourselves back on the path to some form of normality much sooner than we would have been able to without a vaccination roll-out programme?

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The people of this country have endured so much in the past year, including personal tragedies among the highest excess death toll and job losses under the worst damage to any major economy. But they have also seen the Prime Minister’s closest adviser, Dominic Cummings, break the covid regulations, the Home Secretary break the ministerial code and now the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care break the law to hide crony contracts—all without consequences. Will the Prime Minister end this system of one rule for his Tory pals and another for the rest of us?

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I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement, especially the announcement on schools. He is right to be driven by the evidence. Last week, Professor Mark Woolhouse told the Science and Technology Committee that during the whole year there has been very, very little evidence of any transmission outdoors happening in the UK. Will my right hon. Friend continue to look at the evidence and see whether it is possible to bring back outdoor activities such as sports during the weeks ahead? With the spring weather coming, that would be a great boon to millions of people throughout the country.

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Analysis by the Royal College of General Practitioners of NHS England’s covid-19 vaccination figures shows that people of black ethnicity are half as likely as people of white ethnicity to get vaccinated and people of Asian ethnicity are under two thirds as likely as their white counterparts to accept vaccination. What additional specific steps will the Prime Minister take to encourage greater uptake of the vaccine in those communities?

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I welcome very strongly the reopening of schools. After what we have put them through over the past year, it is time we prioritised the interests of our children and young people. The Prime Minister sets out a programme based on data, not dates, and that must be right, but will he please publish the precise criteria for each of those stages to be met? Finally, when the renewal of emergency powers is due, will he undertake to bring that vote to the House before the Easter recess and not after?

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Local council public health teams will continue to be pivotal in controlling the virus, but the Government’s decade of austerity and cuts has damaged their capacity, and the public health grant last year—2020-21—was 22% lower per head in real terms compared with 2015-16. Will the Prime Minister tell the House when the public health grant allocation for this year will be announced and whether it will include a significant real-terms increase to ensure that councils can continue to keep our communities safe?

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I thank the Prime Minister for his statement and for the precautionary approach that he is pursuing to lifting the lockdown. It is clear that the impact of covid will be with us for some time, and I would thus be most grateful if he could confirm that this plan is co-ordinated and synchronised with the measures that the Chancellor will announce in the Budget, and that there will be ongoing support both for badly affected businesses in sectors such as hospitality and for those people who are relying on the £20 uplift to universal credit.

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Greater Manchester has been under local restrictions since the end of July, and it has been a long few months, so I welcome the road map out of lockdown and also the success of the vaccine. As somebody who has just about shaken off long covid symptoms 11 months after contracting covid, can I urge the Prime Minister not to forget those still struggling and the many more who will develop long covid as a consequence of the latest wave of the virus? As the economy switches back on and as lives return to normal, will he also commit to doing more for those who still do not have access to long covid clinics and who still do not have access to support or help, so that nobody is left behind?

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First, I thank the Prime Minister for the measures to get our children back to school on 8 March, which is very welcome—it is something we have called for, and I think he should be congratulated on that—and also for the speed of the vaccine roll-out. Could I just press him a little on the thoughts behind vaccinating groups 1 to 9, which is everyone over 50 and those aged 16 to 64 with a health condition that makes them vulnerable to covid? Those groups account for 99% of deaths and around 80% of hospitalisations, so for what reason, once they have been vaccinated and protected from covid by the end of April at the latest, is there any need for restrictions to continue?

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Throughout this crisis, the Government have been slow to offer the financial support that people need. From 3 million people excluded from any support, to thousands of people failing to self-isolate because they cannot afford to miss work, it is clear that we need to do more. Will the Prime Minister confirm that, to get through the next few months, the Budget will bring forward adequate financial support for everyone who cannot work due to the pandemic, including those who are self-isolating, rather than the current system, which sees too many people fall through the cracks?

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Welcomed the Prime Minister's statement regarding domestic holidays and travel taskforce. Asked for details on testing, vaccination certificates, social distancing, face masks, and quarantine measures.

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Asked about the accuracy of lateral flow testing in schools after the student asymptomatic testing programme in Scotland showed 30% false positives.

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Expressed gratitude to constituents for their efforts in combating the virus and asked the Prime Minister to echo this sentiment.

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Called for a ring-fenced resilience fund to support young people's mental health after noting issues with self-harm, eating disorders, and demand for acute beds.

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Asked to encourage booking staycations this summer, particularly for self-catered accommodations.

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Asked for the publication of names of companies awarded contracts introduced to high-priority vaccine lanes by Ministers, hon. Members, peers, and officials.

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Asked why some dates for easing restrictions were set as “no earlier than” rather than based on data.

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Asked for confirmation that funding packages will address inequalities in recovery from heightened restrictions since last summer.

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Asked for publication of data thresholds that determine easing of lockdown measures, after volunteering at a vaccine centre.

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Asked about including sepsis linkage in long covid research projects.

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Asked about allowing pubs to reopen gardens for consumption of takeaway drinks.

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Asked about continued support for sectors like aerospace, which are suffering despite lifting of restrictions.

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As an animal welfare champion, I was delighted to hear the Prime Minister mention zoos, but in terms of being able to get out there and visit these places and go to pubs, he described certainty as more important than urgency, and mentioned his concern for the unprotected, unvaccinated element of the population, who could be holding the rest of us back. What more can we do to encourage people who might not have taken up the vaccine to make sure that they get jabbed and let the rest of us out?

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Do the Prime Minister and his Government intend to do anything at all for the 3 million or so people who have been excluded from financial support since the start of this pandemic?

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I welcome the Prime Minister setting out the road map as promised, and it is great that schools will be returning, including, importantly, with their sporting activities. However, with that in mind, 8 March would also have been the optimal time to reintroduce for every one non-contact sports such as golf, which it is scientifically proven can be participated in safely during the pandemic. Will the Prime Minister set out why it has not been possible to reintroduce those sports at this stage, given that that will leave millions of people having to wait for another five weeks before they can return to their favourite form of exercise?

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The Prime Minister’s handling of this pandemic has been marked by false promises and inconsistent messaging. Hospitality was covid-secure, yet it had an arbitrary curfew imposed on it and it was then closed down. Today, that industry, which is the lifeblood of coastal tourist towns such as mine, has heard that people can meet outside in a park, yet outdoor areas of safe, regulated pubs, bars and restaurants cannot open until April. It simply cannot see the logic behind that. Can the Prime Minister explain where he found it?

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Further to my question to the Prime Minister on 27 January and representations from Medway MPs, Medway will now have a mass vaccination centre, and I thank the Prime Minister and the Government for that. The impact of covid-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of young people has been raised with me repeatedly by local schools and the local university. The Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield, has suggested that all schools should have a dedicated mental health worker. Is that something that the Government will look to take forward, or will there be specific alternative support for young people? With that, I thank the Prime Minister for his recent response to me with regard to the report that I sent him from Professor Young at King’s College London on mental health and covid-19.

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As the Prime Minister charts his road map out of this third national lockdown, he has undoubtedly presided over a disastrous response to the pandemic—one of the worst in the world. The sluggishness, double-mindedness and mixed messaging has led to billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money going into crony contracts with firms with links to the Tory party. We have one of the worst economic crises of any major economy in the world, and we have the worst death toll in Europe: more than 100,000 people have died, including members of my family. Would the Prime Minister like to take this opportunity to apologise to the British people and reassure them that the steps he is now taking will not lead us into yet another lockdown?

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I fully support my right hon. Friend’s cautious approach. However, he will know that coastal resorts have been particularly badly hit, as they rely to a considerable extent on the hospitality sector. That said, northern Lincolnshire and the Humber can play a major part in the post-pandemic economic recovery. Will the Prime Minister give an assurance that the Government will continue to support established and new businesses in the area?

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The Prime Minister indicated in his statement that wearing face masks will still be a factor in the fight against covid over the months ahead. Many people with hidden disabilities are unable to wear face masks, yet many of them face abuse when they go out in public and people do not realise that they are exempt from wearing face coverings. Will the Prime Minister commit to a public awareness campaign for people with hidden disabilities so that they do not face abuse in public?

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Will the Government do more to improve air flow, control and extraction in health settings, and to make more safe use of powerful ultraviolet cleaners to reduce cross-infection further?

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Scientific research from leading Scottish universities has today shown substantial reductions in serious covid-19 hospital admissions following the administration of the first dose of the vaccine. Given this success, does the Prime Minister agree that it is now time to prioritise critical public servants, such as teachers and other key workers, to ensure that maximum protections are in place as we begin to ease our way out of this lockdown?

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I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement this afternoon and very much hope that it is matched by the First Minister’s statement to the Scottish Parliament tomorrow, because it is better for business—not least the tourism and hospitality sector—that the whole country moves at the same pace. In that vein, does the Prime Minister agree that the incredible success, pace and take-up of the vaccine just shows what this country can achieve when we do it together?

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The Prime Minister should know that there can be no post-pandemic economic recovery without a strong and healthy UK steel industry, but he should also know that our steelworkers are having to compete with one hand tied behind their backs because electricity costs our steelmakers 86% more than in Germany and 62% more than in France. What steps will the Prime Minister be taking to reduce British electricity costs to internationally competitive levels so that our steel industry can thrive in the wake of the pandemic?

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Thank you very much on behalf of Whipsnade zoo, but will the Prime Minister now instruct that a further test case be taken to the courts so that those hospitality businesses whose business interruption insurance is still not paying out can get the relief that they need, having paid thousands in premiums, for decades in some cases?

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Welcomes the roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions but urges the Prime Minister to reconsider opening wedding venues earlier than June, highlighting their economic importance in Bradford.

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Questions the Prime Minister's tough border control policy, suggesting it may not be right despite being popular.

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Asks if there are any plans for the Government to recover funds from contracts that failed, particularly in relation to PPE procurement.

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Compliments the success of the vaccination programme and asks if the Government might review restrictions more frequently based on data if progress is better than expected.

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Highlights disparities in vaccination rates among different demographics and asks what steps can be taken to improve take-up.

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Suggests reviewing later stages of easing restrictions if vaccination proves more effective than anticipated.

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Pays tribute to local medical staff and volunteers involved in the vaccination programme.

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Requests a meeting for representatives from Maternity Action and other organisations to discuss support for women affected by the pandemic.

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Asks if there is flexibility in the roadmap based on data showing increased vaccine effectiveness.

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Questions why the Prime Minister does not bring forward dates in the roadmap based on improved data.

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Requests guidance on restricting travel from more infectious areas in England to Wales.

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Welcomes school reopening plans and asks about assessing children's educational loss and offering additional support.

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Although the Government’s announcement that indoor care home visiting for one named person—one named relative—is to be permitted from 8 March sounds like progress, the fact that this remains a matter for guidance only is very concerning. The Joint Committee on Human Rights has heard too many examples of previous guidance on this issue not being followed, denying meaningful visits when they might safely be facilitated. The Joint Committee has drafted regulations that would ensure that nobody in a care home was denied a face-to-face visit without a carefully thought through, individualised risk assessment. Will the Prime Minister commit to bringing these regulations into force?

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I thank the Prime Minister for his statement. Everyone—especially young people, small businesses and the hospitality and pubs sector—in North West Durham and across the country have made massive sacrifices to achieve the huge progress in tackling the pandemic. As long as the Government’s world-leading vaccine programme continues, the road map means that we will be out of almost all restrictions by late June, with the certain approach that the Prime Minister is pushing for. May I extend an invitation to the Prime Minister, his fiancée Carrie, Wilfred and Dilyn to visit North West Durham this summer, to see some of Britain’s most beautiful but least well-known countryside?

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Earlier this month, nearly half the constituents I surveyed reported severe financial insecurity. Shockingly, almost a third also said that they struggled to afford daily living costs. That is the financial reality of millions around the country. One respondent told me that they feel utterly hopeless about their financial situation. The Prime Minister could now deliver some peace of mind for my constituents by agreeing to extend the support schemes that have kept many families afloat during this crisis, including payments for people self-isolating. Will he do so?

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Our vaccine roll-out has been an amazing success so far, and I want to thank those in the Eston primary care network, Redcar Hospital, James Cook University Hospital and the Government for their efforts in delivering it. We are hitting targets and reaching new milestones each day, and soon we will have the Novavax vaccine, made in Teesside, to help us as well. When does the Prime Minister expect this new Teesside vaccine to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency?

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Is the Prime Minister aware of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign and the urgent need for funding to clear the cancer backlog? Otherwise, we risk turning the covid crisis into a cancer crisis, with tens of thousands more lives lost. Will he commit to the funding to create a world-class cancer service and work with the Catch Up With Cancer campaign to deliver the investment in the cancer workforce, new equipment and IT networks that we urgently need to tackle this backlog?

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This morning I visited Manor Academy in Mansfield Woodhouse to see the amazing job it has done in setting up covid testing for pupils and staff. It is very keen to see its children back in school, as it knows that the inequalities that existed pre covid will only have been exacerbated by closures. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that wide-ranging support will be offered to schools to address not just academic issues but the social and emotional challenges that many children will face as a result of those closures?

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To add to the helter-skelter of various pending cliff-edge dates—stamp duty, the eviction ban, business rates, universal credit, the furlough—a little known one ended yesterday, with the expiry date on those who are shielding being able to claim a four-month supply of free vitamin D. Will the Prime Minister tell us whether the 1.7 million new shielders just added to the list will be eligible? Will he advertise this more widely, and, given how vitamin D builds immunity to all viruses, even for people who are not yet eligible for their vaccination, will he commit to a year-long advertising campaign for all? Kellogg’s is on board; will he do it?

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I welcome the Prime Minister’s statement today and acknowledge the tremendous leadership that he has shown in driving forward the vaccine programme. As my right hon. Friend is aware, the tourism and hospitality sectors are vital to the Fylde economy and they are ready and willing to trade their way to recovery. Will he assure me that he will keep the sector at the front of his thoughts both ahead of next week’s Budget and when implementing his road map?

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The Prime Minister has today acknowledged the importance of holidays abroad but also that strict quarantine is essential to address the global transmission of covid. The aviation sector has estimated that, at best, aviation will return in UK to only a third of 2019 levels this year and that full recovery could take five years, so when will the Government release their delayed aviation recovery plan, and what additional support will they provide for communities such as mine and the Prime Minister’s, who are dependent on the aviation sector for employment?

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My right hon. Friend has quite rightly placed emphasis on the reopening of schools, with the return to school of all children in England on 8 March. In Wales, primary schoolchildren aged seven and under will return this week, while it is hoped that the remainder of primary schoolchildren and some older pupils taking qualifications may return on 15 March. However, there appear to be no plans until after Easter in Wales—beyond the reopening of some non-essential shops—for most secondary school pupils to return. Will the Prime Minister urge the Welsh Government to reconsider their approach, given the harm that young people have already endured during the pandemic?

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In Liverpool, only 23% of those who applied for a test, trace and isolate payment received it, and over two fifths of them received a discretionary payment from money that is now exhausted. Effectively facilitating isolation will be key in preventing the resurgence of the virus via new strains that might compromise the vaccine, so does the Prime Minister accept that eligibility for the test, trace and isolate payment is not drawn widely enough to provide support to those who need it and who cannot afford to stop work without extra help? Will he agree to extend it to include all those people who have no access to statutory sick pay?

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I want to welcome and to raise a hallelujah, along with parents and children, for the good sense of schools returning for all pupils from 8 March. It is the right thing to do on so many levels. May I ask the Prime Minister, however, what evidence has driven his decision that outdoor sport—not in-school outdoor sport, but wider outdoor sport—for those same children cannot go ahead for another month? Furthermore, can he say why, after all the good work that they did last year to create covid-secure environments, restaurants and cafés face another three months before they can open in any meaningful way? What is the evidence that he has seen that has convinced him to make that decision today?

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Our covid rates in Yorkshire have fallen much more slowly than in London and the south-east. Workers are not getting sufficient support for self-isolation, particularly hitting manufacturing towns. Will he think again? Will he extend that support?

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Disabled people have been one of the hardest hit groups during this pandemic with poor communication, late information and inaccessible formats. Will he provide a clear road map for those shielding so they know when it is safe to rejoin society?

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Children and parents will be delighted that schools across England will return on 8 March. May I urge a specific focus on targeted support for white working class children as we rebuild our country?

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University students were not eligible for furlough and are struggling financially due to being legally prevented from returning to accommodation they are obliged to pay for until after Easter. Does the PM think this is fair?

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I very much welcome the Prime Minister’s statement and prioritising reopening schools. Does he agree it is now essential to develop a long-term plan for pupils to catch up on missed education?

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When does he envisage indoor activities like Zumba classes will be allowed again in village halls?

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Macmillan Cancer Support warns that over 100,000 people who live with cancer are struggling to cover basic living costs due to the impact of covid-19. Will he commit to making the £20 per week universal credit increase permanent and extend it to legacy benefits?

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Why did severe quarantine measures not start from the very beginning, similar to Australia and China?

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Events and exhibitions companies are still struggling to get any support for lost business. What reassurance can he give that there will be help in the Chancellor’s Budget next week?

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Millions of young people have had their lives put on hold. What can we do to help those university students entering the job market and those leaving school?

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The German equivalent of furlough will be accessible until at least the end of this year. Why cannot his Government provide that level of certainty and support?

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A wonderful young couple in my constituency had to cancel their wedding due to covid. Can he guarantee that Briana and Jordan’s wedding can go ahead on 1 July?

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We have more than 120,000 covid deaths and the deepest recession of any major economy. Government scientists warn that reopening schools on 8 March could lead to an infection rate rise above 1, triggering an exponential increase in cases. Will the Prime Minister listen to teachers and scientists and follow devolved Administrations with a phased return to schools?

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The success of our north Wales economy is critically dependent on visitors from the rest of the UK and the world. Will my right hon. Friend continue his good work with the Welsh Government to ensure no obstacles are put in the way of visitors, and will he confirm that shared prosperity funds will be used for economic recovery in places like Aberconwy?

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Since lifting lockdown prematurely in December, there have been 60,000 deaths. Does not reopening schools on just one day pose a risk of the virus running out of control?

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Fosse Shopping Park in my constituency is expanding with a £168 million investment. Will you come and cut the ribbon to boost consumer confidence?

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Many care home staff in BAME groups are not taking the vaccine, and local authorities need detailed data to identify non-compliance. Will the Prime Minister make this data available today?

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Lockdowns reverse the natural selection process, favouring more potent variants. Therefore, in addition to economic and social costs, there is a scientific urgency to lift lockdowns.

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Outdoor education is an industry of vast importance, but 6,000 people have lost their jobs. Will the Prime Minister reopen outdoor education or residential stays from summer term or provide a bespoke financial package to support this sector?

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Will the Prime Minister thank volunteers, GPs, pharmacies and nurses for administering vaccines in my area? Will he also ensure that the Chancellor announces support for the wedding, hospitality and events sectors in his Budget?