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Covid-19: Government Handling and Preparedness
27 May 2021
Lead MP
Matthew Hancock
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Social CareDefence
Other Contributors: 30
At a Glance
Matthew Hancock raised concerns about covid-19: government handling and preparedness in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
During his statement, Matthew Hancock acknowledged the unprecedented challenges faced during the coronavirus pandemic and highlighted that although the nation has made significant progress through vaccination efforts, with over 73% of adults having received at least one dose but only 43% having both doses, there are still many who remain unvaccinated. He mentioned that yesterday saw a high number of new cases (3,180), yet thanks to the vaccine rollout, hospitalisations and deaths from the virus have decreased due to low vaccination rates among those in hospital. Hancock announced that vaccinations for all adults will be offered by end-July, with 90% of adults expected to receive their first dose by early July. He praised the collaborative efforts across sectors including healthcare workers, military personnel, volunteers, and citizens who supported the vaccination programme. Despite these achievements, he acknowledged ongoing challenges such as the emergence of new variants like the Indian variant, emphasising the need for continued testing, tracing, and isolation measures alongside vaccine distribution.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Derby South
Question
Ashworth addressed serious allegations made by Dominic Cummings about misleading statements regarding care home safety and preparedness. He questioned Hancock on the discrepancy between public statements minimizing risks of asymptomatic transmission in early days of the pandemic and scientific evidence indicating otherwise, and why patients were discharged into care homes without necessary tests despite earlier warnings from health officials.
Minister reply
Hancock defended himself against these allegations by stating that throughout his tenure as Health Secretary during the pandemic, he has maintained honesty and transparency. He emphasised his commitment to protecting lives through open communication, answering 2667 questions in Parliament since January last year and hosting numerous press conferences with the Prime Minister. Hancock promised to continue being transparent about decisions related to the virus based on data and scientific advice.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
Question
Hunt questioned the Health Secretary regarding the impact of the Indian variant, which is now dominant in many regions according to Neil Ferguson's report. He asked what additional measures could be taken to ensure that Step 4 of reopening can proceed as planned on June 21st.
Minister reply
Hancock acknowledged the rapid spread of the Indian variant and its increased transmissibility, but stated it is too early to determine whether full reopening can occur on the scheduled date. He promised a formal assessment based on data and scientific advice ahead of June 14th, emphasising transparency in decision-making.
Martyn Day
SNP
Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Question
In Dominic Cummings’ opening statement yesterday, he admitted that the UK Government failed the public. Does the Health Secretary agree that the UK Government failed the public? Had he acted sooner, how many lives could have been saved or restrictions avoided? Will he act urgently to prevent further unnecessary suffering and death in the immediate future by holding a comprehensive public inquiry immediately?
Minister reply
The Minister stated that since January of last year, when the disease was not evident in the UK, work on the vaccine was initiated. He emphasised that learning from everything as it happens is crucial but denied the need for an immediate public inquiry to learn lessons.
St Ives
Question
The MP thanked the Minister for visiting the Royal Cornwall hospital in Truro and asked him to focus on delivering the vaccine roll-out and manifesto promises rather than being distracted by Westminster gossip.
Minister reply
The Minister assured that focusing on delivering healthcare investment, such as new hospitals, and dealing with the pandemic is what the public expects. He paid tribute to his visit to Cornwall.
Mike Wood
Con
Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Question
The MP inquired about changes that have helped improve the Government's response over the past six months, acknowledging the difficulty of responding to an unprecedented challenge.
Minister reply
The Minister responded that governing has become easier as people have seen progress in the vaccine roll-out and testing.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South and Walkden
Question
The MP paid tribute to local efforts for the vaccine roll-out but criticised the Government’s response, calling for an investigation into alleged corporate manslaughter. She also asked why the UK did not follow New Zealand's example.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the difficult circumstances in Bolton and thanked staff for their work. He highlighted the high number of vaccinations happening daily.
Selaine Saxby
Con
North Devon
Question
The MP appreciated the visit to North Devon District Hospital and criticised Labour’s inconsistent approach during the pandemic. She asked about commitments to lowering NHS waiting times and improving GP access.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed his commitment to improving GP access, meeting with the BMA to discuss strengthening access to GPs.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
The MP referred to statements about sending people with covid back to care homes and asked for an apology from the Government.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the difficulties faced by those in social care during the pandemic. He emphasised following clinical advice and working closely with the sector.
Mark Harper
Con
Faversham and Mid Kent
Question
The MP asked about the B1617.2 variant first discovered in India, expressing concern about hospitalizations as cases rise. He sought confirmation on whether there would be a reason not to open up fully by 21 June.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that while vaccines are highly effective against serious disease from this variant, they are not 100% effective. The data suggest the vaccine offers significant protection.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for all that he has done to deal with the coronavirus disease and for the roll-out of the vaccine. My mother-in-law died last year from the virus. On Monday, she was taken to hospital, and five days later we lost her. I want to put it on record that we do not blame anybody, but we miss her every single day. There are those in Northern Ireland who have questions to which they need answers. Our Prime Minister has committed himself to an inquiry, and the Secretary of State has committed himself to that inquiry. I want to ensure that those people from Northern Ireland who have lost loved ones and who have sincere questions can ask their questions—they do not want to blame anybody—and get an answer. Will the Secretary of State assure us that people from Northern Ireland who have those questions can and will be part of that inquiry?
Minister reply
Yes, of course. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman, like me, will welcome the fact that this morning Northern Ireland has been able to open up vaccination to all adults over the age of 18, showing the progress that we are able to make working together with the UK vaccination programme and local delivery through the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. Of course the inquiry must and will cover the entire United Kingdom. In the three nations that have devolved Administrations, of course it will have to cover the activities both of the UK Government and of the devolved Administrations. Exactly how that is structured is yet to be determined and it will be done in consultation with the devolved Administrations.
Question
Everyone recognises that lessons can be learned as a result of this pandemic and we do not necessarily need to wait for the inquiry to take place. Does the Secretary of State share my view that integration of health and social care is critical and would absolutely be a lesson to be learned from the pandemic? I was delighted to welcome him to the Isles of Scilly on Monday—the first visit of a Health Secretary, we understand, at any time. Will he affirm that the model that we are developing on the Isles of Scilly to integrate health and social care and improve the outcomes for everyone living there is right for the islands but also a model that could be used elsewhere across the United Kingdom?
Minister reply
Yes, absolutely. It was an enormous pleasure to go to the Isles of Scilly on Monday morning. I did not know that I was the first Health Secretary ever to visit the Isle of Scilly, but frankly it is so wonderful that I would really quite like to be back there before too long. The integration of health and social care that my hon. Friend mentions is happening on Scilly. It is important on Scilly, but it is actually a lesson for everywhere.
Question
Yesterday’s revelations have only served to reinforce what many have suspected: a tale of chaos, deception, dishonesty and failure, including the reckless suggestion of herd immunity and chickenpox parties. While so many watched aghast, the Secretary of State chose to respond to these very serious allegations by claiming he had been too busy saving lives to even bother. My enduring memory of the Secretary of State yesterday will be of him quite literally running away from his responsibilities. I want to focus on one vitally important matter that emerged yesterday regarding deaths in care homes. Did the Secretary of State, as alleged, categorically tell Mr Cummings and unspecified others that people would be tested before being transferred into care homes? If he did not, why then was transfer without testing the adopted policy across England and the devolved Governments, including Scotland?
Minister reply
So many of the allegations yesterday were unsubstantiated. The hon. Gentleman’s most important point was that the Scottish Government, with their responsibilities for social care, had to respond to the same challenges and dilemmas as we did, as did other countries across Europe and across the world.
Question
The families of the bereaved deserve better than the grotesque pantomime of the Cummings evidence session yesterday. At the very least, they deserve the publication of the internal lessons learned review. A constituent of mine whose father died from covid acquired in hospital wrote to me to say that the refusal to release it is an insult to bereaved family members, who, in the midst of our own suffering, are determined to prevent other families from experiencing the loss we have. She is right because the big question is not just about mistakes the Government made last March, but why Ministers never learn from those errors and continue on a path that risks lives and livelihoods.
Minister reply
Of course, we learn lessons all the way through and we follow the scientific developments that teach us more about this virus all the way through, and then we will also have a full inquiry afterwards to make sure that we can learn further lessons for the future. The thing I did not quite understand about the hon. Lady’s question is why she did not refer to the single most important programme that is saving lives, which is the vaccination programme.
Question
Thanks to this Government and the vaccine taskforce led by Kate Bingham, it is Britain that has led the way in vaccinations and it is Britain that has given so much to the world through our vaccination technology and innovation. Globally, over 1 billion jabs have now been given, most of them Pfizer, Moderna or Oxford-AstraZeneca, and it is this Government who backed Oxford university with over £60 million of funding to give the gift of hope to the world. So may I thank the Secretary of State for his efforts and his remarkable achievements in this regard, and may I ask him when he thinks the Teesside vaccine, Novavax, will be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency?
Minister reply
The last point is very tempting, but I will leave it to the independent regulator to make that decision and determine its timing—but we are all very excited about the progress of the Teesside vaccine, as my hon. Friend calls it, the Novavax vaccine.
Mohammad Yasin
Lab
Bedford
Question
At Prime Minister’s Question Time in July, I raised concerns of a care home owner in Bedford who was told as late as 21 May that, if she refused to accept the return from hospital of a covid-positive patient, they would be discharged to an unfamiliar home. I know the Secretary of State is desperate to dismiss Mr Cummings’ version of events on care homes, but to do so would mean calling the care home owner a liar. Who is responsible for the high numbers of unnecessary deaths: the Health Secretary or the Prime Minister?
Minister reply
As I said, we have answered this question many times before. What I would add to those answers is that it is another example of constantly learning about the virus. As we learned the impact of asymptomatic transmission in particular, we changed the protocols in care homes over the summer and put in place the winter plan that led to a greater degree of protection in care homes over the second peak.
Mark Logan
Con
Bolton West
Question
Praises the Health Secretary for his support during a recent spike in cases and asks for an update on Bolton's situation, as well as a continued commitment to work hard for the area.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the challenges faced by Bolton due to high rates of covid transmission and highlights measures such as increased vaccination efforts and testing capacity to combat the issue.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Question
Questions the Health Secretary's transparency during the pandemic, citing specific examples like masks and Test and Trace, and asks for an apology regarding excess deaths in care homes.
Minister reply
Refutes the figures cited by the MP but acknowledges the challenge of keeping people safe in care homes during the pandemic. Emphasises the importance of building testing capacity to improve future preparedness.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
Asks how the Health Secretary accounts for discrepancies between his statements and those from the National Audit Office, and inquires about plans to address workforce planning for future emergencies.
Minister reply
Defends transparency and accountability, citing reports by the National Audit Office. Agrees on the importance of proper workforce planning.
William Wragg
Con
Hazel Grove
Question
Reflects on ironies surrounding recent events involving the Prime Minister's former adviser.
Minister reply
Focuses on delivering for constituents and getting through the pandemic, leaving observations of irony to the MP.
Chris Stephens
SNP
Glasgow North East
Question
Argues for a quicker start to a public inquiry into the Government's handling of the pandemic.
Minister reply
Declines to agree, sticking with the current plan.
Peter Bone
Con
Wellingborough
Question
Praises the Health Secretary for his hard work and questions if firing Dominic Cummings earlier would have been a better decision.
Minister reply
Gratefully accepts praise but focuses on getting through the pandemic, emphasising collaboration and hope.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Stepney
Question
Calls for an admission of Government failures in handling the pandemic and urges for a public inquiry to start sooner.
Minister reply
Acknowledges losses from the pandemic, agrees on learning lessons but emphasises the need for a full post-pandemic inquiry.
Mark Fletcher
Con
Darlington
Question
Thanks volunteers and staff at Chesterfield's Winding Wheel for their vaccine efforts and questions about monitoring of opposition politicians' criticism.
Minister reply
Expresses delight in the MP receiving his first vaccine, emphasises decision-making based on available information.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Worsley and Eccles South
Question
At the start of this pandemic, covid-19 was seeded into care homes by a discharge policy that required care homes to take asymptomatic patients. A letter from Kent and Medway CCG to care providers dated 26 March 2020 made it clear they were asked to take such patients whether they had been tested or not. The MP is asking specifically if the Prime Minister knew that the discharge process did not require testing, which led to thousands of avoidable deaths.
Minister reply
I have answered this question many times before and explained that building testing capacity was a challenge at the start of the pandemic. I was focused on protecting people in care homes and establishing daily testing availability.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
Question
Surely it is not in anyone’s interest, especially those mourning loved ones, for this issue to distract the Secretary of State at a crucial point during the pandemic. The Government have committed to a full public inquiry where hindsight can prevail. Now is the time to focus on saving lives and carrying out the vaccination programme effectively. Will the Minister meet with West Midlands metropolitan leaders who wish to work together towards these goals?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State agrees that it is in everyone’s interest for him to continue his work, and he would be delighted to meet the cross-party delegation from west midlands leaders to roll out the vaccination programme as effectively as possible.
Barry Sheerman
Lab
Huddersfield
Question
The MP prefers Select Committee inquiries over public inquiries due to their speed and effectiveness. He inquires about last week’s lack of foresight regarding advice given to local authorities, such as Kirklees. The MP also asks whether there is now a national plan for emergency responses similar to those developed by local authorities.
Minister reply
The Government have learned significantly from this pandemic, building capabilities like the vaccination and testing programmes. There was a specific issue with Kirklees that has since been addressed through increased support for vaccinations and mass testing.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Question
Yesterday’s Committee meeting focused on lessons learned from the pandemic. The MP highlights the early WHO statements regarding virus transmission risks which were lower than later assessments suggested. He asks if the biggest lesson is a need for global response plans, and whether the Prime Minister will make this case at the G7 summit in June.
Minister reply
The Health Secretary agrees with the MP's perspective on the importance of reforming and strengthening global institutions like WHO to improve future responses.
Patrick Grady
SNP
Glasgow North
Question
The MP asks about donations of surplus vaccines and PPE to developing countries in relation to the Government’s decision to cut their overall contribution to international aid from 0.7% to 0.5%. The MP wants clarification on whether these donations count towards aid targets and if other projects will be affected.
Minister reply
The UK has donated items such as vaccines, PPE, and medical equipment directly to India, Nepal, and others. However, the largest contribution is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine which has been delivered at cost globally.
Steve Brine
Con
Winchester
Question
The MP notes that the successful roll-out of vaccines mirrors a turning point in tackling the pandemic. He praises the Government and public for their efforts during this challenging period.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend, who was a superb Health Minister, captures the spirit of what the country has endured over 18 months. The attitude needed is one where you welcome people into positive partnerships to achieve goals.
Shadow Comment
Jon Ashworth
Shadow Comment
In his response, Jon Ashworth criticised Matthew Hancock's failure to address serious allegations made by Dominic Cummings regarding misleading information on care home protections. He questioned the Secretary of State about deaths in care homes and hospital discharges without testing requirements being met at that time. Ashworth highlighted inconsistencies between public statements claiming a lack of knowledge about asymptomatic transmission and scientific warnings from earlier periods indicating the need for precautionary measures like mass testing before transferring patients to care homes. Additionally, he questioned Hancock's claim that it was safer for patients to go back into care homes despite high mortality rates among residents at that time. He further inquired why Hancock blamed Simon Stevens for PPE shortages when his own department was responsible.
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