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Covid-19 Update
29 November 2021
Lead MP
Sajid Javid
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSTransportMental Health
Other Contributors: 58
At a Glance
Sajid Javid raised concerns about covid-19 update 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
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, made a statement on the Omicron variant's threat to the UK. He outlined steps taken at borders, such as adding Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia to the travel red list, and implementing PCR tests and self-isolation measures for all arrivals. In-country measures include stricter self-isolation rules for close contacts of those testing positive for Omicron and making face coverings mandatory in shops and on public transport. The Minister also announced plans to accelerate the booster vaccination programme, cutting the interval between doses from six months to three months and expanding eligibility to include everyone aged 18 and above. He emphasised that these measures are temporary and will be reviewed after three weeks.
Rosena Allin-Khan
Tooting
Lab
Question
The MP inquired about pre-departure testing as a means of preventing the entry of people with covid into the country. She also questioned the rationale behind not introducing such measures earlier.
Minister reply
The Minister stated that decisions are based on scientific advice and proportionate steps, but did not provide specific details regarding pre-departure testing.
Rosena Allin-Khan
Tooting
Lab
Question
She enquired about the rationale behind not mandating masks in hospitality settings and asked how enforcement would be managed for mask-wearing requirements.
Minister reply
The Minister did not provide a specific response but emphasised the importance of following public health guidelines. He mentioned that measures are being put in place to slow the spread of Omicron.
Rosena Allin-Khan
Tooting
Lab
Question
Allin-Khan asked about when a decision on vaccinations for younger children will be made and sought clarity on actions to speed up vaccine roll-outs.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation had provided advice which he accepted, expanding booster eligibility and reducing dose intervals.
Tooting
Question
She thanked the Secretary of State for advance sight of his statement, questioning why pre-departure testing was not introduced. She also raised concerns about mask-wearing enforcement and urged for measures to enforce mask wearing in hospitality venues. Furthermore, she asked when a decision on vaccinations for younger children would be made.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State responded by affirming the government's commitment to international donations through COVAX, emphasising that 20 million doses have been donated so far. He stated that measures taken were proportionate and that he would provide further details on vaccinating more people in coming days.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
Question
He acknowledged the sensible measures taken but questioned whether the emergence of omicron was a symptom of inadequate vaccine distribution globally. He highlighted that while rich countries had vaccinated 60% of their populations, poorer countries were at just 3%.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State agreed with Hunt and stated that the UK is leading on international donations but called for other countries to step up efforts as well.
Question
He thanked the Secretary of State for his statement, emphasising the need for day eight PCR testing accompanied by isolation. He also inquired about convening an urgent Cobra meeting involving all four nations and advocated for increased global vaccine production.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State stated that day two testing was proportionate but did not rule out further measures if necessary. He highlighted the successful collaboration between UK nations during the pandemic.
Question
He questioned whether panic measures would be avoided should there be an increase in infections, focusing on vaccine effectiveness against severe illness and hospitalization.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State agreed with Clark's point that the focus should remain on hospitalizations rather than taking panic measures.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham and Chislehurst
Question
The second line in the Secretary of State’s statement was: ‘We have always known that a worrying new variant could be a threat to the progress that we have made as a nation.’ With that in mind, does he think it was wrong for the Government to abandon mask wearing in public places and confined spaces? Will he listen to the recommendations of Doreen Lawrence’s report and start to issue full-face protection masks to care workers and health workers?
Minister reply
Surely the hon. Gentleman is not suggesting that if we had had different rules on masks over the summer, this variant would not have emerged.
Question
I am sure that my right hon. Friend will want to pay tribute to the South African Government for raising the existence of the omicron variant, which resulted in their having a travel ban imposed. I have constituents—and, in fact, a family member—stuck in South Africa. For how long does he expect cancellations and suspensions of flights to occur? It is a worrying time for anyone stuck overseas.
Minister reply
First, I join my right hon. Friend in again expressing thanks to the South African Government for how they have handled this difficult situation. I understand her point about her constituents. Many of us will have constituents in a similar position. It is hard to say when direct flights might start. We have started our hotel booking programme, which is one part of trying to get our citizens back, but we will do everything we can to support them in that way.
Valerie Vaz
Lab
Walsall and Bloxwich
Question
We have quite rightly praised the South African doctor, but she saw her patient face to face. What advice, guidance or instruction will the Secretary of State give to GPs? I know that my constituents are keen to see their GPs face to face, which may be more effective than Test and Trace.
Minister reply
The right hon. Lady asks an important question. One thing that we are doing is updating guidance throughout the NHS, including for primary care.
Question
The Secretary of State said in his statement about the legislation that he has laid before the House—incidentally, it is not yet available on legislation.gov.uk for Members to study—that close contacts of anyone who tests positive with a suspected case of omicron must self-isolate for 10 days regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. First, will he confirm that that is in the regulations? Secondly, for the benefit of the House, will he set out what he did yesterday in television studios: the mechanism by which the omicron variant will be identified and communicated to people contacted by Test and Trace, so that we all know how it will work? It is more complicated than the system that we have had to date.
Minister reply
I can confirm that the new regulation on close contact will be anyone who is a close contact of someone with a confirmed positive case of suspected omicron. The UKHSA is working at speed on the best ways to determine a suspected case. One way is the so-called S-gene drop-out test, but there are other quick ways to ascertain that. The tracing work will be carried out by Test and Trace.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Question
It is often said that how a society treats its most vulnerable is a measure of its humanity, yet a quarter of the clinically extremely vulnerable have yet to receive their third primary dose because of confusion that persists about the third primary dose and the booster. One in five of the clinically extremely vulnerable are still shielding without any Government guidance or support. For them, the uncertainty of the new variant is terrifying. Will the Secretary of State or one of his Ministers please meet me and patient groups to discuss our five-point plan on how we can protect the clinically extremely vulnerable this winter?
Minister reply
The vaccines Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Maggie Throup), is meeting patient groups this week and she is also happy to meet the hon. Lady.
Question
May I join others in welcoming the well-judged and rapid action this weekend as well as the acceleration of boosters, including the new provision of a mass vaccination this weekend in Newmarket? Existing vaccinations—including boosters—are effective against all known major variants before omicron, but will the Secretary of State set out plans for a variant vaccine, should that be needed in the worst-case scenario?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend for his support. The UK has been supporting a new vaccines programme largely thanks to his efforts when he was in my position. That work continues. If it is necessary to procure new vaccines that we believe are safe and effective and will help with the new variant, we will do so.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Question
Gordon Brown said yesterday that the chief medical officer urgently needs to teach the Prime Minister “some basic medical facts”, and I would say that that could probably be extended to some of those on the Government Back Benches as well, meaning that we are not going to stop the threat of variants—
Minister reply
I said earlier that, out of the 100 million commitment that the UK has made to international donations, over 20 million have already gone and been delivered, and another 10 million are about to go.
Question
The return of PCR testing will be met with some apprehension by the international travel sector, which has just been getting back on its feet, but it will at least be cheered by the Secretary of State’s statement that we will not keep measures in place for a day longer than is necessary. Can I ask the Secretary of State to ensure that the providers of PCR tests are those that will actually give accurate, good-value testing back to the public, and that we will not see some of the issues that arose over the summer repeat themselves?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. I know he rightly takes a close interest in this; we do want to minimise any impact on our excellent transport and travel sector. He is right to raise the importance of making sure that PCR tests are available, the pricing is correct and the Government website where providers are listed is properly monitored so that anyone who breaks the rules is delisted.
Question
Although the measures taken so far are welcome, now that we have community transmission of omicron in Brentwood and in Scotland, we need more protective interventions. Mask wearing can obviously play an important part, so can the Secretary of State say whether he agrees with the call from the British Medical Association to extend it to all indoor and enclosed settings? Will he also consider measures to increase ventilation in enclosed settings, encourage working from home and give proper sick pay to those who need to isolate?
Minister reply
I think we have been clear about why we have set out the new rules on masks, and I think our response is the proportionate one. The hon. Lady is right to raise the importance of ventilation. That is why it is very clear in the guidelines, and many places are following that. When it comes to sick pay, it is right that we have kept the rules in place that allow people, should they test positive or have to self-isolate, to claim sick pay from day one.
Question
If the situation deteriorates—we all hope it will not, but if it does—please can the Government do everything possible not to shut down the hospitality and events sector again? The livelihoods of millions of people depend on it, and they are just getting back on their feet. Please, let us not knock them down again.
Minister reply
I agree absolutely with my right hon. Friend.
Question
The emergence of omicron is not really much of a surprise; it is more a case of when, not if. Anecdotal evidence from South Africa suggests that, while it may be more infectious, the potency seems to be more limited. Of particular concern are the mutations to the spike protein in two specific areas, so what action are the Government taking to put in additional resources to adjuvant therapy development, especially given the impact on monoclonal antibody therapies and the vaccine, and what is the status of genomic surveillance in the UK at present?
Minister reply
First, I think it is fair to say that our genomics surveillance has never been so strong. It was getting stronger even before the pandemic, but because of the pandemic, there has been a huge amount of investment, and it has paid off UK-wide. On the treatments, there is some concern about this new variant and Ronapreve, which is one of the key monoclonal antibodies that we use for treatment, but it is just concern at this point; there is no particular evidence. However, part of the reason for taking these measures is to buy the time we need—two to three weeks—to give our scientists time to assess the risk of this variant properly.
Question
First, what assessment has the Secretary of State made of the early reports from South Africa that the variant may actually lead to less severe illness than the previous variants? Secondly, I welcome the fact that we will have both a debate and vote tomorrow on these regulations, but would it not be better if we had the debate and the vote before the restrictions come into force, rather than after?
Minister reply
I believe that right after my statement the Leader of the House will be making a statement about the debate and vote tomorrow. On the severity, there are reports, as my hon. Friend has said, but it is early days and we are looking into them, talking with our South African friends and getting more details. It is worth pointing out the difference in age profile and demographics: in South Africa, people with covid are on average younger, and we are taking that into account as well.
Battersea
Question
The Secretary of State set out the booster programme for the vaccines in his statement but has not mentioned what steps he will be taking to support those areas where take-up of the vaccine is still very low: what additional resources will be provided to those areas?
Minister reply
That is an important point and the hon. Lady is right to raise it. We estimate that 5 million people across the UK have not even taken up the offer of their first dose of the vaccine, putting themselves and their loved ones at great risk. A lot of work has been done over the past few months and it is bearing results: we are seeing ever more people coming forward, especially in the past few weeks. Indeed, many came forward this weekend, perhaps out of concern about the new variant. A lot of work is being done with community leaders, and there is an existing communications campaign but a new one will start imminently.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
Over the last few months there has been a useful control experiment on face coverings, given the different policies pursued in Scotland and England. What estimate has the Secretary of State made of the result? It is mumbo-jumbo, isn’t it?
Minister reply
If my right hon. Friend is suggesting that there are mixed views on the efficacy of face coverings in helping to fight the pandemic he would be right, but I would point him to UK work by Public Health England—published, if I remember correctly, last month—referring to a number of reports setting out how in certain settings face coverings could help.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Question
What urgent action is being taken to vaccinate people who are bed-bound?
Minister reply
For those who are bed-bound, home-bound or vulnerable for other reasons and who cannot make it to vaccination centres, vaccinations are primarily carried out by GPs. I do not have the numbers of how many have been done, but recently to encourage more people to be vaccinated more quickly we changed the GP payment system, which seems to have helped as well.
Aaron Bell
Con
TBC
Question
The Opposition often call for more restrictions, but it was the relaxation of restrictions this summer, which the Government took under scientific advice, that has put Britain in a good position prior to the emergence of this variant. While I welcome the statement and the proportionate precautionary measures the Secretary of State has taken today, will he assure me and the House that this is a temporary measure, and that when we get more information and have bought more time, we will get new measures to react to that information?
Minister reply
Yes, I am very happy to give that assurance to my hon. Friend. He is absolutely right that this is all about buying a bit of time that our scientists need to assess this variant properly and to determine what it really is and whether we should really be worried about it or not.
Vicky Foxcroft
Lab
Lewisham North
Question
Immuno-compromised people continue to be worried: many still do not know whether the vaccination works on them. The OCTAVE—Observational Cohort Trial-T-cells Antibodies and Vaccine Efficacy in SARS-CoV-2—study showed that around 150,000 people potentially have reduced or no antibody response, but OCTAVE-DUO is not due to report until early next year. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the immunocompromised population has access to antibody tests, thus allowing them to know their level of protection? Will he ensure that those with little or no protection have the support they need to stay safe?
Minister reply
Yes, of course. We want to make sure that we are helping people who are immunosuppressed in every way possible, including with access to any tests that might be clinically required.
Bob Seely
Con
TBC
Question
Will the Secretary of State, on behalf of the Government, reassure me that the Foreign Office and its consular service will be doing all they can? I am already receiving calls from Islanders stuck in southern Africa who are worried about their ability to get back.
Minister reply
Yes, I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. We have been working closely with colleagues in the Foreign Office, and that will remain vital work so that we can help people—UK citizens or Irish citizens—who might be stuck abroad to come back.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
Given the change to the rules for booster vaccinations announced by the JCVI this afternoon, how long does the Secretary of State think it will be before all the people between 18 and 40 who have had their first and second jabs can come forward and receive the booster jab, so that as much of the population as possible is protected?
Minister reply
First, I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that we have already done 17 million, which is almost one third of the adult population.
Richard Drax
Con
TBC
Question
None of us underplayed the threat of any new variant. As my right hon. Friend has said today, covid is not going to go away. It is not; it is here for the rest of our lives. The country is learning to live with the disease, which is the only way forward. Will he please reassure me, the House and the country that he will never, ever go back to locking this country down?
Minister reply
No one wants to see those kinds of measures. I agree with my hon. Friend that covid is with us to stay and we need to learn to live with it.
Peter Kyle
Lab
Hove and Portslade
Question
One of the most covid-vulnerable settings in the country is school classrooms. Children have a much lower vaccination rate than adults, and children come from all over communities to one place and then return to families in the afternoon. Masks are being returned to corridors, but they are not being returned to classrooms. I take no pleasure in advising the Secretary of State to make children wear masks in classrooms. However, it is absolutely clear what the stakes will be if we get this wrong. Students have already been absent from schools in their hundreds of thousands this term, and we are approaching the exam season.
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman will know that the Department for Education today set out fresh guidance on masks in communal areas—
Andrew Bridgen
Con
TBC
Question
My right hon. Friend has outlined the Government response to the emergence of the omicron variant and the restrictions he wishes to place on the public. This House will quite rightly have a vote on those measures. He has also stated that the measures will be reviewed in three weeks’ time. He knows that in three weeks’ time this House will be in recess.
Minister reply
The review should take place as soon as possible. That is how the Government determined the three weeks.
Caroline Lucas
Green
TBC
Question
The Secretary of State says that rich countries must do everything they can to ensure more vaccines reach the global south. Judging by his actions, he means doing everything except the main thing those countries are actually asking for: waiving intellectual property rules at the World Trade Organisation so they can manufacture vaccines themselves.
Minister reply
I heard what the hon. Lady had to say, but the UK does not believe that waiving patent rights and intellectual property rights on these vaccines would be helpful.
Charles Walker
Con
TBC
Question
I say to the Secretary of State that injecting people, not just in this country but around the world, is a huge logistical undertaking. I believe that in India nasal vaccines are used for the administration of the flu vaccine.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to raise the importance of vaccine delivery mechanisms.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Question
I wholeheartedly agree that no one is safe until we are all safe, and the UK and other G7 countries need to take some responsibility for the emergence of this variant. I just wanted to touch on the fact that we already have community spread of this variant.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady makes an important point about contact tracing.
Steve Brine
Lab
Winchester
Question
I welcome the widening of the booster programme but my constituents still have no walk-in access in Winchester. The measures we will be asked to approve tomorrow night will likely appear rather small, but the wider impact of the past few days is huge, as nativity plays and community events are being cancelled. What evidence base is that drawn from, and when might we reasonably expect data from the scientists on how, if at all, the variant hits vaccine efficacy?
Minister reply
Firstly, I will take away the issue of walk-in access in Hampshire to address it. Secondly, while these measures are necessary and proportionate, their impact must not be underestimated. We have set a three-week review point for more data, including information from international counterparts.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Will the Secretary of State assure us that any curtailments such as travel restrictions will be proportionate and scientific, taking into account transmission and the seriousness of the new covid variant?
Minister reply
Yes, I can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
As someone who received his booster jab last Thursday at St Thomas’ Hospital, may I ask why certain groups and communities seem to fear vaccination? Which are those groups and communities, and what can be done to persuade them that they are wrong?
Minister reply
There are many communities where vaccine take-up is lower than others, especially in the black African community. A huge amount of work is being done through community leaders and communication campaigns, along with offering access to vaccines in various ways.
Andrew Gwynne
Ind
Gorton and Denton
Question
Will the Secretary of State talk more about the transmissibility of the omicron variant and vaccine efficacy on it?
Minister reply
It is fair to say that we do not know enough yet, but there is emerging evidence that this variant may be more transmissible. We need more time to determine its impact on vaccine efficacy.
Question
I welcome the speedy and decisive action taken by the Government over the weekend in response to the new variant, including the delivery of 17.5 million boosters. Is he confident that the infrastructure and robust supply of vaccines are in place for delivering 6 million more booster vaccines over the next three weeks?
Minister reply
We are very confident about our vaccine supply and the ability to accommodate the new advice from JCVI.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
May I urge the Secretary of State to look at two things? Firstly, the deliberate campaign of disinformation around the country. Secondly, will he tackle the problem of profiteering with companies charging disproportionate prices for PCR tests?
Minister reply
We are working across Government to counter such disinformation as best we can and regarding PCR tests, I refer him to previous remarks.
Question
When reviewing the wearing of face masks and additional restrictions introduced, will he consider real-life scenarios? He has heard calls from Opposition Members for mask-wearing and working from home. Is he aware that in Wales, these measures have been in place since summer but infection rates are still much higher?
Minister reply
We feel we have taken the right approach to face masks and I welcome his support today.
Mike Wood
Con
Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Question
Will he look at neighbouring red list countries that have much lower testing and analysis levels, to see whether travel restrictions for some of those countries might be appropriate to keep people in this country safe?
Minister reply
We will keep that issue under review. South Africa’s handling of the matter has been professional and exemplary.
Stephen Kinnock
Lab
Aberafan Maesteg
Question
Why did the Government ignore Clive Dix's expert advice about setting up a new taskforce to fast-track the development of new vaccines for new variants?
Minister reply
I do not think it would be correct to say that the Government have ignored the advice. The UK already has an excellent vaccine taskforce which is better than in any other country in the world.
Question
Can he confirm that schools will not be closed earlier than the run-up to the Christmas holidays? Also, can he explain the scientific evidence on which the decision to ask students to wear masks in corridors was based?
Minister reply
There are no plans of which I am aware that would require us to close schools early. The rules on masks set out today by the Department for Education are guidance for schools in relation to communal areas.
Question
If we are to win the fight against the omicron variant, it is essential that people comply with public health guidance, but with the UK’s statutory sick pay ranking among the lowest in Europe, far too many people in this country simply cannot afford to self-isolate. Will the Secretary of State commit himself to working with colleagues in the Cabinet to raise the rate of sick pay to at least the equivalent of a week’s living wage, so that no one is forced to choose between doing the right thing and heating their home this Christmas?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman will know that we have kept rules in place that will allow people to claim sick pay from day one. As for the question of whether further support is needed, we keep that under review and provide further support if it is necessary.
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for the work that he has been doing and the speed with which he has been doing it. Can he confirm to my constituents that as soon as more is known about the new variant and if it is deemed to be less of a threat than first thought—as is starting to emerge from the evidence in South Africa and the people who first identified it—he will act swiftly to remove restrictions, particularly the one on self-isolation, regardless of vaccine status, especially in the run-up to Christmas?
Minister reply
Yes, I can give my hon. Friend that assurance.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
Will the Secretary of State give us his opinion on whether every Member in the Chamber should be wearing a mask?
Minister reply
All Members know what the guidance is, and it is a decision for them.
Question
Like many other Members, I welcome today’s statement, and I agree that further measures and restrictions would only be a necessary evil. Will the Secretary of State acknowledge the many millions of people and businesses throughout the UK who are clawing back jobs, livelihoods and freedoms after a difficult two years, and does he agree that these further restrictions should only be an absolute last resort?
Minister reply
I do agree with my hon. Friend. We all know from our experience of the pandemic thus far that while many of the restrictions may well be necessary to fight covid, they have other impacts, especially on the economy, on people’s life chances and on children’s education and social lives.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Question
I welcome the Government’s plans to extend the vaccination programme. However, with our NHS under severe pressure after two very difficult years, what extra resources is he willing to put forward to support our frontline NHS, particularly our GPs and our A&E and ambulance services?
Minister reply
This year alone, we have provided an additional £34 billion of support to the NHS and the social care system. All the extra funding is in place in each of the areas that the hon. Gentleman has just mentioned—whether it is the winter access fund for GPs or the support for the ambulance trusts, which I think have had more than £55 million for the winter pressures—and it is making a real difference.
Question
Having received my booster vaccination yesterday, I would like to thank the Leicestershire and Rutland vaccination service, and particularly Rachel and Abbie, for their excellent work. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that constituents take up their vaccinations, including their booster, to help us all through the winter period?
Minister reply
Yes, I do. The vaccines remain our primary line of defence and I congratulate my hon. Friend on getting her booster shot yesterday.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
Question
Without in-country manufacturing of the vaccine in the global south, we will never get the protection that we need against this pandemic, and no matter how many donations the Government make, supplies will never meet the demand. Will the Secretary of State therefore look again at the issue of in-country manufacturing, whether that involves release of the patent or other mechanisms, so that we can see a proper scaling up of the delivery of the vaccine in the global south?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right to talk about the importance of in-country manufacturing in the developing world. She will know that India, for example, is one of the largest manufacturers of vaccines, including the covid-19 vaccine, but she rightly points out that this capacity needs to grow and become available in other countries, and it is right to look to see how we can support that.
Laura Trott
Con
Sevenoaks
Question
I welcome the acceleration of the booster programme, but may I ask the Secretary of State to do all he can accelerate the approval by the JCVI of the vaccine for the under-12s, particularly those who are clinically extremely vulnerable? I have a constituent who is seven and who is desperate to go to school without fear, and all his parents want is to be able to give him the jab.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to raise that, and I hope she will agree that the JCVI has acted very quickly since the emergence of this new variant.
Question
I think that the Secretary of State briefly mentioned hotel bookings in answer to an earlier question. He will be aware that over the weekend there have been reports of a shortage of quarantine hotel spaces. How will he ensure that this does not undermine his reasonable attempts at a rapid response to the new variant, and where can someone currently find reliable information about the capacity and availability of such accommodation?
Minister reply
The Department already had contingency plans in place for countries being rapidly added to the red list. I believe that more than 600 rooms were made available on Sunday morning, and that will rapidly increase during the next few days.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement. Clearly the problem here is uncertainty. I welcome the analysis, along with the three-week review and the ambition to do it sooner, but following on from the question from my hon. Friend the Member for North West Leicestershire (Andrew Bridgen), does he agree that if the review takes place after the House has risen, we should be recalled to debate its findings?
Minister reply
That is a decision we will have to make closer to the time.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Question
Shop workers and transport workers will bear the brunt of asking people to comply with these new restrictions. What measures do the Government propose to ensure those workers get the protection they deserve?
Minister reply
These new rules on face coverings will be enforceable by law, and the police and other law enforcement authorities will be able to issue penalty notices—I think the penalty starts at £200.
Question
My North Devon constituents are keen to get boosted, with a big queue last night at the Barnstaple leisure centre vaccination drop-in. Although I am delighted that the booster programme is being extended, will my right hon. Friend please reassure me that more help will be given to rural constituencies like mine where residents are struggling to get local appointments, despite the hard work of the clinical commissioning group and vaccination team?
Minister reply
I am pleased to hear my hon. Friend’s constituents are so keen, and I assure her of that support, especially as we expand the booster programme on the back of the latest JCVI advice.
Question
The Secretary of State will know very well that the omicron variant has alarmed people who are immunocompromised, particularly those who are uncertain about whether their third jab was a booster or a specific jab for immunocompromised people. There are also people in anomalous positions with respect to the vaccination programme. As Members of Parliament, how can we get fast-track information from the Department about what is right for individual anomalous constituents?
Minister reply
Most people in that situation will be contacted either by letter or directly by their GP, but I understand the importance of the question.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement. He mentioned reviewing the evidence as quickly as possible. Will that include evidence from countries that had the variant before it got here? Many health academics have said that the virulence of flu is growing with social distancing, the wearing of masks and so on, and that our immunity is not what it was because we are not mixing. With attention rightly being given to covid, are we looking at other viruses such as flu? What plans will be put in place if a very virulent strain takes hold?
Minister reply
Work is being done on this variant not just in the UK but by our friends across the world.
Kate Osborne
Lab
Jarrow and Gateshead East
Question
I am pleased to hear there are no plans to close schools, but what assessment have the Government made of the potential for new self-isolation requirements that could keep children out of school? What steps will be taken to mitigate time out of education, because our children and young people cannot afford to spend any more time away from their educational settings?
Minister reply
We will keep the new self-isolation requirements under review. At this point in time, I think very few children will be affected because, as the hon. Lady knows, the new requirements apply only to close contacts of those who have tested positive with a suspected case of the new variant. We will keep it under review, and the education of children will always be a huge priority.
Shadow Comment
Rosena Allin-Khan
Shadow Comment
The shadow Secretary of State for Health, Rosena Allin-Khan, criticised the Government's flip-flopping on mask mandates and called for their reinstatement in hospitality settings. She questioned why pre-departure testing was not introduced and asked about enforcement measures for masks. Allin-Khan also raised concerns over delayed vaccine rollouts to 12-15-year-olds and the impact on mental health patients. She urged the Government to address sick pay issues and provide more support for those needing to self-isolate.
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