← Back to House of Commons Debates
Covid-19
06 January 2021
Lead MP
Boris Johnson
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSEmploymentBenefits & WelfareStandards & Ethics
Other Contributors: 72
At a Glance
Boris Johnson raised concerns about covid-19 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
Mr Speaker, Boris Johnson announced new measures to combat the new variant of coronavirus. He expressed gratitude for House of Commons staff and wished Jo Stevens a speedy recovery from her hospitalization with COVID-19. The Prime Minister highlighted that over 1.3 million people in the UK have been vaccinated with both Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, with a target to offer vaccinations to everyone in top four priority groups by February 15th. He emphasised the importance of vaccination centres across the country and transparency through daily updates online. However, due to the highly contagious new variant, Johnson announced a national lockdown for England, closing schools except for vulnerable children and those of critical workers, limiting reasons for leaving home, advising shielding again for clinically extremely vulnerable individuals, and supporting businesses with £4.6 billion in additional assistance. The Prime Minister stressed that while these measures are necessary now, the Government is committed to reopening schools as soon as possible after February half-term.
Stephen Kerr
Lab
Greenock and Inverclyde
Question
Mr Speaker, can we have a commitment from the Prime Minister to ensure that those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and shielding will be given priority when it comes to vaccinations?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister emphasised that the NHS is following JCVI guidelines aimed at saving lives as quickly as possible. He stated that over 650,000 people in the top four priority groups have already been vaccinated, with a commitment to offer a vaccination to everyone in these groups by February 15th.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
The Prime Minister mentioned £4.6 billion of additional financial support for hospitality and retail businesses. Will this funding cover the full cost of a national lockdown?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister assured that while £4.6 billion is substantial, it aims to provide necessary assistance during the lockdown. He highlighted that continuous reviews will be conducted every two weeks with an obligation to lift restrictions if deemed unnecessary for controlling virus transmission.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Question
The MP thanked the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement and acknowledged the NHS efforts. He then criticised the government's delayed response to warnings about a second wave, track and trace failure, tiered system inefficiencies, and delays in implementing Christmas rules changes. The shadow asked for details on vaccine roll-out plans, including whether the NHS could deliver 2 million vaccines per week, if there would be sufficient doses weekly until mid-February, resources needed, support from high street pharmacies, and use of volunteers. He also raised concerns about financial support gaps for the self-employed, Universal Credit cut, eviction ban, statutory sick pay, wage freezes for key workers, school closures without contingency plans, access to laptops/home computers, online learning costs, BTEC exams cancellation, border measures against new strains, and demanded leadership on these issues.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister thanked Keir Starmer and addressed the points raised. He mentioned £13.7 billion support for self-employed individuals as part of a £260 billion package. There would be an above-inflation pay increase for public sector workers, including a 12.8% increase for nurses over several years. For laptops and devices, 560,000 had been delivered to schools. The border measures were being reviewed based on new virus strains detected globally.
Question
The MP thanked the Prime Minister for taking necessary steps to protect the NHS and acknowledged businesses facing difficult times. He asked whether the House would have an opportunity before February half-term to debate progress towards reducing restrictions, or if it will wait until March.
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend was correct that this House should be given opportunities to discuss these issues before the end of March. The aim is to vaccinate the first four cohorts by mid-February; if successful and with no new virus mutations, substantial opportunities for relaxing restrictions will arise.
Ian Blackford
SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Question
Mr Speaker, may I take the opportunity to wish you, your colleagues and members of staff a good new year? I also send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to the hon. Member for Cardiff Central (Jo Stevens). People across these islands have entered into this new year feeling a mix of hope and fear: hope that the vaccine will finally end this terrible pandemic, but real fear, too, about the increased cases, the hospital admissions and, sadly, the lives lost. If we are asking people for one last effort, if we are asking them to endure weeks of lockdown, then they need more clarity, protection and financial support.
Minister reply
I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. On his questions about the self-employed, we have supplied £13.7 billion already, as I said to the right hon. and learned Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer). The Barnett consequentials for Scotland from the new money will of course be passed on.
Jeremy Wright
Con
Kenilworth and Southam
Question
Most of us do appreciate the difficulty of the judgments my right hon. Friend is having to make, so I thank him, in particular, for the access he has given Members of this House to the Government’s medical and scientific advisers so that we can understand them better. Does he agree that just as it is important that everyone understands the reasons why we have gone into a national lockdown, it is just as important that everyone understands the circumstances that will allow us to leave it?
Minister reply
My right hon. and learned Friend makes a very important point. If our understanding of the virus does not change dramatically again, if the vaccines take effect in the way we think they will, and if everybody continues to follow this lockdown and stay home, protect the NHS and save lives, then around about the middle of February, there will be substantial opportunities to relax the restrictions that we currently face. Schools will clearly be a priority.
Edward Davey
Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Question
People are afraid and anxious. This lockdown should have come sooner, but we must all support it now and do all we can to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible. But we also need more action to save people’s jobs, their businesses and their livelihoods. Small businesses have shown incredible resilience, but they worry whether they can survive another lockdown. Three million people—most of them self-employed—have been excluded from Government support since the start.
Minister reply
There will be a Budget in the course of the next few weeks and months. The Government have made substantial cuts to business rates and VAT, and produced a package of £260 billion of support for businesses, jobs and livelihoods across the UK. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that our businesses are showing fantastic resilience under pressure—but the best way to help them now is to follow this latest lockdown, get the vaccine rolled out, and get our economy moving again in February.
Jo Gideon
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Question
Stoke-on-Trent is keen to play its part in the national vaccination programme. Our mass vaccination centre is ready and able to serve the residents of Stoke-on-Trent and north Staffordshire. However, it has not been scheduled to go live before the end of January.
Minister reply
Yes, indeed. I will ask the Minister to write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
I would also like to send best wishes to the hon. Member for Cardiff Central (Jo Stevens). A Conservative party newsletter told party members to say “the first thing that comes into your head” even if it is “nonsense”. Yesterday, the Chancellor unwrapped £227 million of already announced funding as new for Wales, which Plaid Cymru calls wilful misrepresentation, deliberately misleading desperate businesses in Wales. Will the Prime Minister apologise on behalf of his Chancellor?
Minister reply
I am sure the right hon. Lady would not wish to accuse the Chancellor of wilful misrepresentation. All the cash announced is passported on; it is important that the Labour Government in Wales spend it sensibly.
Saqib Bhatti
Con
Meriden and Solihull East
Question
I thank the Prime Minister for his statement. I know he has had to take difficult decisions, and I understand why he has had to and I fully support him. I am deeply concerned, however, about the impact of covid-19 and lockdown on our children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Does my right hon. Friend share these concerns?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that question. We are putting £300 million into helping schools and young people continue their education online. We have discussed the role of the BBC, mobile phone companies and internet providers in helping as well, and we have already delivered 560,000 devices for children who need them most.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Question
The MP questions the Prime Minister about the effectiveness of the Government’s test, trace, isolate and support system. She mentions a £22 billion investment and asks for improvements in statutory sick pay and eligibility criteria.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges increased support but emphasises that NHS Test and Trace is indispensable to understanding the spread of disease. He highlights 47% of global genomic tests being conducted by the UK.
William Wragg
Con
Hale Constituency
Question
The MP praises local efforts in rolling out vaccines and urges the Prime Minister to remove bureaucratic barriers and ensure supply.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister confirms plans to accelerate vaccine distribution, stating that Britain has vaccinated more people than any other European country.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
The MP questions the effectiveness of repeated lockdowns and their ability to achieve objectives like suppressing the virus.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister justifies lockdown measures, stating they protect the NHS from being overwhelmed by pandemic waves.
Tom Hunt
Lab
Ipswich
Question
The MP inquires about support for grassroots sports clubs such as boxing and football academies struggling due to fixed costs.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister promises additional £210 million to help community sports institutions, including those mentioned by the MP.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Question
The shadow questions the uneven impact of lockdown measures and asks for increased statutory sick pay and protection against cuts in universal credit.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister assures additional investment into mental health provision, amounting to £13 billion plus £18 million to charities.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
The MP criticises lockdown regulations for being overly restrictive and lacking purpose.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister justifies the restrictions as necessary for stopping virus transmission, protecting NHS and saving lives.
Lucy Powell
Lab Co-op
Manchester Central
Question
The MP urges for a long-term plan to help businesses survive beyond spring, suggesting that current measures are insufficient.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister sets a timeline of 15 February for vaccinating the first four cohorts and expresses optimism about reopening economy.
Question
The MP expresses concern over economic impact and mental health, asking how people will know when things get better.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister cites the vaccine roll-out pace as a reason for optimism, with significant improvement expected by spring.
Warrington North
Question
Special schools were not mentioned in the Prime Minister’s statement, but they will remain open over the course of lockdown. Will he please advise the House what advice and support they have received to stay open safely for the often vulnerable young people who need them, and whether special educational needs school staff, students and their parents will be given priority access to the vaccine to keep them safe?
Minister reply
I thank SEN schools, their staff, parents and pupils for everything that they are doing—and all the work that is being done by teachers across the country to continue to look after the children of key workers and vulnerable kids. The point about vaccination should be left to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
Question
Before Christmas, we were told that testing was happening at the Public Health England facility at Porton Down that would tell us within a couple of weeks whether the vaccines worked against the new strain. Would the Prime Minister update us on the latest on that, and if there is a glitch with the vaccine programme, are we implementing a plan B involving mass testing?
Minister reply
There is no reason to think that any new strain of the virus is vaccine resistant. Mass lateral flow testing in communities across the country will continue to be rolled out.
Ruth Cadbury
Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Question
The Government seem to sit and wait for the situation to reach boiling point before they act, while other Governments have acted early. Will the Prime Minister acknowledge that his wait-and-see leadership strategy needs revising?
Minister reply
This country has vaccinated more than any other country in Europe put together.
Question
Will the House be consulted on lifting restrictions before the end of March? Can he offer the House a vote at the end of January and at the end of February as well?
Minister reply
I repeat what I have said several times: The House will not have to wait until the end of March for new votes and discussions.
Question
Is his strategy based on vaccines alone? Can he assure us that teachers will be a priority for vaccines, and can he detail his long-term covid exit strategy?
Minister reply
We have no evidence that any strain of the virus is vaccine resistant. It is very important to express full confidence in the vaccine programme.
Question
Can the Government ensure that every child across the country has access to high-quality remote education during closures?
Minister reply
A huge amount is being done to supply remote devices and encourage remote learning of all kinds.
Southgate
Question
Can the Prime Minister confirm that local elections in 2021 will go ahead as scheduled on 6 May?
Minister reply
Of course; that is what the law provides for, although we will obviously have to keep it under review.
Question
Why does a qualified but non-practising doctor need to complete courses on conflict resolution, equality and human rights, moving and handling loads, and preventing radicalisation in order to give a simple covid jab?
Minister reply
I am assured by my right hon. Friend the Health Secretary that all such obstacles have been removed.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon
Question
Will he commit now to working with teachers, trade unions and others to plan how we can level up the educational and life chances of our disadvantaged pupils post covid?
Minister reply
Yes; I will. We must tackle the impact of differential learning that the last 12 months have had.
Question
Does he agree that now is really not the moment to weaken our welfare safety net and that extending support for families on low incomes would be the right thing to do?
Minister reply
We will of course keep this under review.
Question
The 3 million British taxpayers who have been excluded from support since March last year are looking at another three months with no support. Does the Prime Minister believe that they are important enough to get their own statement?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor will be using the earliest opportunity to update the House on the massive package of economic support.
Question
Can he reassure me that come mid-February, there will be a presumption, rather than a prospect, of an easing of restrictions? I understand that there cannot be a cast-iron guarantee as we are in a moving situation.
Minister reply
A cautious presumption is what I would advise.
Ian Byrne
Lab
Liverpool West Derby
Question
Ofcom estimates that 1.8 million children in the UK are digitally excluded, with a lack of access to equipment or broadband. Will the Prime Minister outline how he will solve the issue of digital poverty which is widening educational inequalities during this lockdown?
Minister reply
The Government is rolling out gigabit broadband across the country and mobile phone and internet providers have come together to provide cut-price access for those who need it.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
What will be the metrics in decisions made on moving areas down the tiers and reopening schools once high-risk groups are vaccinated?
Minister reply
The metrics will remain the same as under the previous tiering system: rate of disease reproduction, pressure on the NHS.
Question
Will there be a repeat of the 'Everyone In' initiative for rough sleepers with emergency funding at least at the level committed last March?
Minister reply
The Government will continue to do everything in their power to prevent people from finding themselves sleeping rough or homeless during this winter.
Question
What measures are being taken to speed up the vaccine roll-out, such as using pharmacies and mobilising troops?
Minister reply
The Government will bring together NHS, GP clinics, GP services, hospitals, pharmacies, and armed services to roll out the vaccine as fast as possible.
Question
Will the Prime Minister commit to continuing furlough for as long as needed and extending sector-specific payments to the hardest-hit sectors?
Minister reply
Furlough will indeed be continued further, but those who cannot work because of Government restrictions are not excluded from support.
Question
Will the Prime Minister lay out plans for getting the vaccine to key groups such as teachers, police officers and home carers?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend the Health Secretary will set out a programme for rolling vaccines out beyond the first four priority groups.
Jeff Smith
Lab
Manchester Withington
Question
Could the Chancellor look again at how to help those excluded by the self-employed support scheme, such as Ross who is living on £8 a month?
Minister reply
Further measures will be forthcoming, but the overall package of support is £260 billion across the whole country.
Esther McVey
Con
Tatton
Question
Will the Prime Minister ensure that the £2 billion returned by supermarkets goes to those who have not had any support during this pandemic?
Minister reply
The funds will go towards supporting the poorest and neediest in society, as part of a progressive package of measures.
Derek Twigg
Lab
Widnes and Halewood
Question
Will the Prime Minister take action to stop any profiteering by private providers and ensure they use their capacity for NHS patients requiring urgent surgery?
Minister reply
The Government wants to keep covid under control to allow the NHS to continue with cancer treatment and other vital services.
Question
Can my right hon. Friend apply pressure on the Welsh Government to provide more assistance to Delyn businesses or could those funds be reclaimed by the UK Government?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to take up this issue with Welsh Labour and insist that the Welsh Government spend money where it needs to be spent.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
When will every child have access to a laptop, broadband or phone charges for their lessons, teachers and classmates?
Minister reply
The Government is expanding those things and rolling them out. For detailed answers about individual constituents, the Minister will write to him.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
Thanking the Prime Minister for listening to representations on keeping places of worship open, MP highlights the importance of reopening the economy sensibly and encourages more self-reliance among priority groups. Questions about testing carers who are not showing symptoms.
Minister reply
Agrees that people should be encouraged to get tested when they have symptoms. Supports community testing initiatives for lateral flow tests.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Highlights the catastrophic impact of travel restrictions on aviation and aerospace sectors, urging for sector-specific support.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of the industry and promises to do everything possible to get it back on its feet.
Question
Urges for vaccination availability in rural areas, specifically his constituency, Rother.
Minister reply
Grateful for support and commits to rolling out the vaccine across the country as fast as possible.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
Asks for confirmation that independent community pharmacies will be involved in the vaccination programme.
Minister reply
Confirms that about 12,000 community pharmacies are expected to participate.
Question
Acknowledges the UK’s vaccine procurement efforts and requests assurance on the timely roll-out of vaccines in his constituency.
Minister reply
Reassures that the vaccine will be rolled out as fast as possible to all constituencies.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Question
Questions the Prime Minister's U-turns and erratic approach, stating it does not provide certainty.
Minister reply
Asks for retraction of the statement about schools being unsafe.
Question
Queries eligibility of dental teams for early priority under the vaccination roll-out.
Minister reply
Clarifies that all dentists in patient-facing roles are eligible for the vaccine.
Question
Asks about action being taken to ensure a secure supply of oxygen and contingency plans.
Minister reply
Promises to look into the matter regarding oxygen supply at Queen's Hospital immediately.
Damian Hinds
Con
East Hampshire
Question
Encourages prioritising key workers, including teachers, for vaccination after highest-risk groups.
Minister reply
Understands the point and confirms it will be considered by JCVI.
Cat Smith
Lab
Lancaster and Wyre
Question
Asks about the duration of the new one-off grant support announced by the Chancellor.
Minister reply
Refers to the Chancellor's announcement of £4.6 billion support package.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
Question
Will the Prime Minister join me in thanking the armed forces for their extraordinary efforts to beat this virus, especially those in Rutland and Melton? Will he reassure me that our vaccination programme will extend to those in our armed forces and reserves most at risk from catching covid in the course of their duties?
Minister reply
I thank our armed forces from the bottom of my heart. The JCVI will consider all parts of the public sector, including the armed forces, as it makes decisions about the allocation of the vaccine.
Diane Abbott
Ind
Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Question
The Prime Minister will be aware that, as school lessons move online, the cost of pay-as-you-go broadband is completely prohibitive for poor families in areas such as Hackney. Will he look again at providing free broadband when it comes to accessing online education?
Minister reply
Yes, but I think arrangements by mobile phone companies will cover most costs. I am happy to come back to the right hon. Lady about exactly what is being offered.
Question
Will my right hon. Friend consider urgently the way in which Government help for local authorities is being paid? Somerset County Council has been given huge grants but has then diverted much of the money to balance its books, which is not what it was for.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight what is going on in Somerset. The county has a duty to use covid grants for that purpose and not for any other.
Question
According to the House of Commons Library, the UK Government have spent £3.3 billion of borrowed money on the stamp duty freeze, which is a vast subsidy to the middle classes who are buying and selling domestic property. Does the Prime Minister regret prioritising that?
Minister reply
That is entirely upside down and misrepresents what the package of support has done. The £260 million is overwhelmingly progressive and goes disproportionately to support the poorest and neediest in society.
John Hayes
Con
South Holland and The Deepings
Question
Will he reassure my constituents that local doctors’ surgeries will be equipped and supplied so that they are able to vaccinate the vulnerable not later, but sooner?
Minister reply
Yes, it is our intention that doctors’ surgeries will be equipped as fast as possible with supplies of the vaccine. We intend to do this.
Imran Hussain
Lab
Bradford East
Question
When the Chancellor announced his support schemes for businesses and workers last year, I warned him repeatedly that the coverage did not go far enough. Will the Prime Minister ensure that everybody in Bradford who needs financial support during these difficult times will get it?
Minister reply
Yes, we will listen to calls from ExcludedUK as we listen to all such calls. The UK Government continue to support businesses and protect jobs and livelihoods across the country.
Christchurch
Question
What is the public health justification for criminalising gatherings held exclusively between those who have already been vaccinated for more than three weeks? Will he introduce an exemption for such gatherings?
Minister reply
All restrictions are there to protect the public, and I believe the public understand that.
Pontypridd
Question
My constituents could have been helped if this Tory Government had stepped up to the plate sooner and committed to the Union when Wales went into an earlier lockdown. Can he explain why Wales continues to be an afterthought?
Minister reply
Wales is at the forefront of our thoughts and we are anxious to continue to support the people of Wales in any way that we can.
Jerome Mayhew
Con
Broadland and Fakenham
Question
In Norfolk, those most at risk from covid have already received 27,000 vaccination first injections since 9 December. What are the chances of securing more than 2 million doses of vaccine per week?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for what he is doing to campaign for vaccines in Broadland and to scale up at speed across the country.
Question
Could my right hon. Friend work with the leaders of the devolved Administrations by following the example of the four chief medical officers, who have worked closely together?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend makes a very important point about the occasional dissonances between the UK Government and some of the devolved authorities. However, fundamentally the message is the same.
Daniel Zeichner
Lab
Cambridge
Question
At no point have I heard him apologise to education leaders, teachers, students and parents for the chaos earlier this week. What has he learned from all this, and what will he do differently in future?
Minister reply
I certainly wish to pay tribute to everybody involved in the education sector. We all wanted to keep schools open, but alas, the pandemic has not made that possible.
Cheryl Gillan
Con
Chesham and Amersham
Question
PHE data shows that younger adults with learning disabilities and autism are up to six times more likely to die of covid. Please can they be added to the priority vaccination list immediately? Also, during previous lockdowns, vital exemptions included autistic people being able to exercise more frequently, which was incredibly important in helping them cope and continue to have that much-needed routine in their lives. Will the Prime Minister confirm that these exemptions will apply for the new lockdown, so that autistic people are not left stranded, and will he commit to accessible information about this being published as soon as possible?
Minister reply
Yes, indeed. I will commit to better and fuller information if that is necessary, although of course as my right hon. Friend knows, it is a general principle of these restrictions that people have more freedoms when they need to exercise for health needs.
Ben Bradshaw
Lab
Exeter
Question
If, as reports suggest, the Government intend requiring people arriving in the UK to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of their arrival, how will British people currently abroad in areas where it is difficult to get quick turnaround PCR tests get home?
Minister reply
I think that the people of this country would want to see—as I do, and as I believe Members on the Benches opposite do—proper protection against the readmission of the virus. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman understands that, too.
Kate Griffiths
Con
Wirral South
Question
I recently had the chance to volunteer at our local vaccination centre, hosted by Burton Albion Community Trust, and I am grateful for the work of Dr David Atherton, chair of our local primary care network, and all his colleagues involved in the roll-out of the vaccine to residents across Burton and Uttoxeter. Will the Prime Minister consider the consent process when looking at ways of speeding up roll-out? At the moment, I am advised that individual consent by a healthcare clinician takes 10 to 15 minutes. This means that it will take 41,000 hours to consent and vaccinate the priority groups in east Staffordshire alone. Will he consider a national consent model to help speed up this process?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes a very interesting suggestion. I should stress that we have no plans to make vaccines compulsory in this country; however, we want to make it as smooth and as easy as possible, which I think is her objective, and I think she would join me in encouraging everybody who is offered a vaccine to take it up as soon as possible.
Pete Wishart
SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
Question
I wonder whether the Prime Minister has had a cursory glance at Scotland and seen the massive approval ratings for our First Minister and her handling of the covid crisis. Has he observed the clear leadership she has offered our nation? Does he ever think about comparing his poor performance with hers and wish that he could offer the same type of leadership to the UK?
Minister reply
I must confess I have not given that particular matter any thought, because I have been occupied entirely with protecting the NHS, fighting coronavirus and saving lives. I respectfully say that that should be the hon. Gentleman’s priority as well, if I may say so, rather than these slightly abstract political considerations.
Douglas Ross
Con
Ochil and South Perthshire
Question
Throughout this pandemic the UK Government have provided the Scottish Government with billions of pounds of additional support, but we know hundreds of millions remain unspent. These are vital funds that could help to protect jobs and support businesses. Is there anything further that could be done to encourage the Scottish Government to get these moneys out to Scottish businesses as quickly as possible?
Minister reply
The best thing I can do is encourage my hon. Friend in the excellent work he is doing in holding the Scottish nationalist Government to account, and encourage them to get on and use the funds that the UK Government are giving to the people of Scotland to support jobs in Scotland.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Question
I am sure the Prime Minister will agree that councils have borne the brunt of covid, particularly during lockdown, and have given all our communities maximum support. Leeds has incurred £40 million of additional costs, as the council is not covered by the grants the Government have given, and will now face further lockdown costs, with an overall £100 million budget shortfall, in the main caused by years of central Government underfunding. Will the Prime Minister ask his good friend, the Chancellor, to grant local councils a one-off payment to offset the additional costs incurred due to covid-19 and ensure the financial stability of councils this year and next?
Minister reply
Of course, I know that many councils find themselves under great pressure, although some have handled their budgets better than others. We have given £4.6 billion, I believe, to support local councils, and we will continue to support them. I thank the staff and workforce of councils for the huge and vital role they all help to play in fighting this disease.
Theresa Villiers
Con
East Worthing and Shoreham
Question
I received a worrying call this morning from the chair of Barnet Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee indicating that it may be that only 13 care homes in the borough have received vaccinations. Will the Prime Minister intervene to make sure the frail elderly and their carers in Barnet get the vaccinations they need as soon as possible?
Minister reply
Yes, I will. I have said that I want to have maximum transparency, and I want to see an accelerated roll-out of vaccination in care homes. So far, I believe that 10% of care home residents and 14% of care home staff have received the vaccine, but that clearly needs to be stepped up.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda
Question
It has been great to see vaccination already starting in the Rhondda, but obviously we can only give the vaccine when it arrives. The Prime Minister quite rightly said earlier that we should be prioritising the vaccine for those who are at risk of mortality. Rhondda Cynon Taf, unfortunately, has the highest rate of death per 100,000 of any local authority in the country. We have a very large percentage of people who are extremely vulnerable, and we have a higher than average percentage of people who are working in the NHS, so can I urge the Prime Minister, as a matter of urgency, to prioritise communities like the Rhondda and make sure that Rhondda’s surgeries are getting not just 70 or 80 but hundreds of doses of vaccine a week so that we can vaccinate everybody who is at risk?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman makes an eloquent point about the way in which many people in the Rhondda will naturally fall into the high qualifying groups that have already been identified by the JCVI.
Jason McCartney
Con
Colne Valley
Question
I welcome the Chancellor’s £4.6 billion in new lockdown grants, but can the Prime Minister please look again at more support for hospitality, pubs, breweries, the entertainment industry, tourism and weddings, as well as the self-employed and those excluded so far? Specifically, will he look at delaying the tax return deadline to help freelancers and the self-employed, and also look at extending the business rates holiday and the VAT reduction? Finally, will he look at setting up a hospitality and tourism recovery fund?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend, and I know that our right hon. Friend the Chancellor is going to consider all measures necessary to allow the hospitality sector to bounce back just as fast as we can get it out of the restrictions that businesses currently face and get them bouncing back. That will depend, as the House has heard extensively today, on our ability to roll out this vaccine, but above all it depends on our ability to follow the rules, restrictions and guidance in these measures, and I hope very much that hon. Members will support them this afternoon.
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but criticised the government's response for being too slow. He urged for a clearer plan regarding vaccine rollout, questioning if NHS has sufficient resources to deliver 2 million vaccines weekly by mid-February. On financial support, Starmer called for extending eviction ban, addressing issues with financial support for those isolating due to COVID-19, and halting the planned cut of £20 from universal credit. He also highlighted the lack of contingency plans for school closures, urging immediate action on delivering laptops to children without access to a home computer or mobile internet connection. Starmer expressed concern about border measures not being implemented promptly enough, emphasising the need for support families, protecting businesses and rolling out vaccines quickly.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.