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Covid-19 Update
19 October 2020
Lead MP
Matthew Hancock
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Social CareLocal Government
Other Contributors: 61
At a Glance
Matthew Hancock 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 statement addresses the ongoing coronavirus situation and its impact on the UK, particularly focusing on the rising cases among older people. Minister Hancock outlines that Lancashire has moved into a very high alert level due to rapid increases in infections, hospital admissions, and ICU patients. He emphasises the government's commitment to supporting local authorities with testing, tracing, enforcement, and business support. The minister also updates the House on testing capabilities, including the introduction of new, faster tests being rolled out across hospitals, care homes, schools, and universities. Additionally, he announces regulations for flu and potential COVID-19 vaccine deployment. Hancock concludes by urging everyone to work together in fighting the virus.
Torfaen
Question
Why has Greater Manchester not been placed in tier three and what additional financial support will be provided?
Minister reply
Discussions with Greater Manchester are ongoing, aiming for a rapid agreement. Financial support is being offered to local authorities moving into tier three, including business grants.
George Young
Con
North-West Hants
Question
What measures will be taken regarding the roll-out of vaccines?
Minister reply
Regulations have been laid for flu and potential COVID-19 vaccine deployment, expanding clinically qualified personnel to administer vaccines and ensuring timely UK licensing if necessary.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Delyn
Question
Sends condolences and wishes; virus continues to grow with R rate between 1.3-1.5, care homes seeing outbreaks, admissions rising slowly but still rising; welcomes testing progress, asks for timescale of millions of tests a day by end year; frontline healthcare workers need testing to help NHS through winter; test results not in 24 hours yet; test and trace fails due to badly designed system costing £12 billion; local public health teams needed for tracing; economic support vital with consent of locals; Bishop describes Liverpool, Lancashire, Manchester negatively; if imposing greater restrictions on Greater Manchester, financial support necessary; tier 3 restrictions proposed but R number high in south-east, south-west, east of England; circuit break advised by SAGE but ruled out by Cabinet Office now.
Minister reply
Acknowledges questions about testing; 300,000 tests a day currently and on track for half a million by end month; funding local contact tracing everywhere; support in areas needed most with economic aid; local leaders have responsibility to bring down R rate and given powers/resources if necessary; local approach needed with collaborative discussion across party lines.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
Question
Congratulates on LAMP and lateral flow testing news, suggests aligning incentives for local leaders to bring down R rate with powers/resources if necessary.
Minister reply
Approach is working effectively in almost every local area; collaborative approach across party lines; over the past week, Greater Manchester's infection among those aged 60+ has risen from 171 per 100,000 to 283, vital public health action needed.
Central Ayrshire
Question
Economic impact on hospitality industry significant, ventilation key in reducing spread of virus; asked if VAT removed and made tax deductible for installation of antimicrobial technology.
Minister reply
Absolutely supports businesses including hospitality; Chancellor has supported them more than any other sector; economic support by UK Government when Scottish Government takes public health action; will take away point and talk to Treasury.
Sara Britcliffe
Labour/Democrat
Hyndburn and Haslingden
Question
In Hyndburn and Haslingden—and, in fact, across Lancashire—we have some of the strongest people I have ever met. We will do everything we can to get our infection rate down, because that is what we do when times are tough: we come together. However, morale is low and mental health is suffering as people cannot see their families and some have been unable to see their loved ones in care homes since March. Will the Secretary of State outline what the Government are doing to mitigate that situation, and what steps are being taken to try to facilitate safe visits, given that there is no clear end date?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend has shown real leadership in Hyndburn in very difficult times. This has not been easy for the people of Lancashire. In Hyndburn, there have been restrictions for some time and I appreciate how hard that is, but I think everybody will look to the way my hon. Friend has tried to support people as much as possible, contacting me day and night with the cases of individual constituents, and has put herself at the service of her constituents. The people of Hyndburn are very well represented. On the specific point that my hon. Friend makes, absolutely we must ensure, just as places have to go into level 3 restrictions when we are concerned about the ability of the NHS to cope if things get further out of hand, that so too will we reduce those restrictions as soon as we can safely.
Ian Mearns
Lab
Blyth Valley
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for the meeting he had with north-east MPs on Friday. I can tell him that, if the data is accurate, the signs over the weekend are that we are moving in the right direction. I understand that SAGE highlighted that the impact of further potential restrictions will be felt very differently by different communities. SAGE suggests the need for immediate planning to refine measures to minimise potential harms and to mitigate impacts on vulnerable groups. Given the Government’s commitment to the levelling-up agenda, what are the Government’s plans to reduce the real risk that measures taken to respond to covid will continue to increase inequality and worsening levels of poverty and deprivation? In the north-east, we are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination, but can I urge the people of the north-east to carry on doing the right things?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman speaks for everyone across the north-east. The cross-party working has been first rate and I pay tribute to all colleagues from the north-east who have been working so hard. The message to everybody in the north-east is that there are early signs that the measures are starting to work, but we are not there yet, so let us all stick with it, work together, support each other, support the NHS and absolutely we will bring in the economic support to ensure both that we help businesses as much as possible, help employers and help individuals through this crisis.
Stephen Hammond
Con
Wimbledon
Question
How correct my right hon. Friend is that the most effective actions are those that are local and targeted. Will he confirm that he will look at tier 2 reviews in the light of regulation 8 in part 4 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (High) (England) Regulations 2020, so that we can target on a local basis? Given that so many cases are asymptomatic, could he say when he expects the new test to be more widely available across the community?
Minister reply
My hon Friend makes an incredibly important point, which is that the regulations are written on a borough-by-borough basis, and if we can take specific boroughs out of the regulations sooner, based on the data, then we will do so, and we have done. In fact in some cases we have taken part of a district or a borough out of the regulations when that is what the data has shown.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Question
The Welsh Government have today announced a stringent two-week firebreak to try to bring the R number down. Central to the strategy, of course, must be sufficient economic support for businesses and livelihoods. Will the Secretary of State press the Chancellor to ensure that the Welsh Government have sufficient financial flexibility to pursue their chosen public health policy?
Minister reply
Yes, of course. The Welsh Government respond to the circumstances in Wales as they see fit, according to the devolution settlement. As I was saying to the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Dr Whitford), we are absolutely prepared, ready and engaged in supporting communities and businesses right across the UK and in supporting individuals who, through no fault of their own, fall on what can be incredibly hard times because of the impact of coronavirus.
Graham Brady
Con
Altrincham and Sale West
Question
The Secretary of State knows that pubs, bingo halls and gyms have gone to enormous lengths to ensure that they offer a safe environment, and many of us in Greater Manchester and elsewhere are sceptical that closing those institutions would make a significant difference to the spread of the virus, but can I ask him why the Government will not extend the additional resources for Test and Trace independently of those measures? Surely, it would be beneficial to do so.
Minister reply
Across Greater Manchester and across Trafford, we had extended further support for Test and Trace before the tier system came in. We have engaged to make sure that we get the benefits of local teams accessing and, because they have boots on the ground, finding people whom the national team simply cannot find, and that will continue.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Question
Small businesses in a tier 2 area such as Newcastle may not be asked to close, but they will face severe reductions in revenue due to local restrictions affecting football, for example, in the centre of our great city. The Secretary of State talks about unprecedented support, but these are unprecedented challenges for viable jobs in our city centre. In addition to what he has already mentioned, what local economic support will he offer to businesses in Newcastle?
Minister reply
If we do need to bring in further measures in Newcastle, then there is absolutely further support that is available, and there is already the unprecedented economic support that my right hon Friend the Chancellor has set out.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Question
Most of the MPs in Essex have reluctantly felt the need to support the tier 2 measures that are now being applied, but we are very concerned about the effect of this on the hospitality sector, in particular. Is it not very important that we align the economic interests of our constituents with the public health interests instead of polarising the debate such that one is either in favour of the economy or in favour of controlling the virus? May I also emphasise that one of the reasons why public confidence in the Government’s strategy is somewhat in decline is that we have yet to see the transformation of the leadership of test and trace, which I have discussed with the Secretary of State many times?
Minister reply
Where I agree with my hon Friend is that there is no trade-off between health and economic measures, because if the virus gets out of hand, then we will end up with a worse economic hit as well. I know he agrees with that because we have discussed it many times.
Warrington North
Question
As Warrington’s neighbouring Liverpool city region and Lancashire are in tier 3, with Greater Manchester expected to follow shortly if financial support is agreed, we need confidence that if we are asked to follow suit, there is robust evidence for the required closure of hospitality businesses, leisure businesses and salons. Will the Secretary of State commit to publishing the specific UK transmission data for these sectors compared with other workplaces—or are they merely a soft target?
Minister reply
We published further data late last week on exactly the question that the hon Lady asks. We have the backward contact tracing in place that the hon Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth) asked for—I apologise for not answering his question on that—and we have seen the evidence from that.
James Murray
Lab Co-op
Ealing North
Question
The October 2020 “World Economic Outlook” published by the International Monetary Fund clearly states that the short-term economic costs of lockdowns could be compensated by stronger medium-term growth, possibly leading to positive overall effects on the economy. The Government clearly disagree with the IMF’s assessment, but can the Secretary of State tell me whether he or his colleagues have carried out any analysis of the economic impact of a national circuit break?
Minister reply
Of course we look at all the impacts of all the policies, but we know that the more targeted a policy can be, both in terms of the measures and the geography, then the less disruption it will have.
Andrew Selous
Con
Carshalton and Wallington
Question
The Secretary of State quite rightly finished his statement by saying that we must all play our part in getting the virus down. Does he think it was that shared population-wide commitment in Wuhan in China that has seemingly got life back to normal? What lessons are there from what China has done that we could usefully apply here in the UK?
Minister reply
I would be cautious about some international comparisons, because life is not exactly back to normal and there are restrictions still in place. For instance, we have seen today Sweden introducing restrictions on a regional basis, which is similar to the approach that we have here.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Question
This weekend, I spoke to pub landlords, café and bar owners and staff across our towns, and they all said that business had plummeted since Wednesday, when we became a tier 2 area. They were all cutting staff hours, some were considering closing completely, and none of them was getting additional support, because the tier 2 job support scheme simply does not work for them. Does the Secretary of State not understand that in order to sustain support for additional health measures, he has to listen to the people who are most affected by them? Will he look again at support for tier 2 and tier 3 and make sure that jobs and businesses get the support they need?
Minister reply
Again, I am going to come to the defence of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, who has put in these support packages on a scale that has never been seen before.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
How many separate covid vaccines are undergoing trials at present in the United Kingdom, and what is the planned duration of the trial period for each?
Minister reply
There are three vaccine trials under way in the UK: the AstraZeneca trial, which is frequently discussed; the Imperial College trial; and a trial of the Novavax vaccine. The period of the trial is dependent on the clinical results and on the data.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
I was alarmed, as were many public health experts, to read reports over the weekend that test and trace data is being shared with the police. Even a source in the Secretary of State’s own Department said that that will put people off getting tested. I hope the Secretary of State agrees that that is the exact opposite of what we need. Public trust and confidence in test and trace is critical, and transparency of the use of personal data is central to that, so will he publish today the memorandum of understanding that he and his Department have signed with the National Police Chiefs’ Council?
Minister reply
It is very important that people come forward for testing. As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said yesterday, of course, the vast majority of people not only come forward for a test, and want to come forward for a test, when they have symptoms, but want the isolation arrangements to be enforced fairly so that everybody isolates when they need to.
James Daly
DUP
Strangford
Question
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been no recorded covid-19 outbreak in public houses in my constituency. Taking into account low national rates of transmission in pubs, when my right hon. Friend is in negotiations with colleagues from Greater Manchester, will he think very carefully before closing these covid-secure environments, which have spent thousands to ensure that they are secure, and cease introducing extra restrictions that will make trading an impossibility?
Minister reply
Nobody has stood up for the pubs and hospitality businesses in Bury more than my hon. Friend, and he makes an important argument about outbreaks.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for his regular attendance in the Chamber and for his responses to questions. Will he outline the procedures and criteria for the vaccination schedule, bearing in mind that news reports state that a fully tested vaccine will be available in the near future? Does he agree that frontline workers in shops need to be part of the list of priority recipients, after the medically vulnerable, NHS staff and those in the caring profession?
Minister reply
Of course, no vaccine technology is certain, but the longer we go without bad news, the better things are.
John Howell
Con
Henley
Question
I make no apology for again bringing up the question of co-trimoxazole since I believe the drug can help very much in the fight against covid. Following the successful trials in India and Bangladesh, has there been any progress here?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right to raise that question, and I will write to him with a full update once I have taken advice from my clinical advisers and from Professor Jonathan Van-Tam.
Kevan Jones
Lab
North Durham
Question
At the weekend, Mrs Helen Perry, one of my constituents, contacted me to say her son and three of his flatmates at Northumbria university had tested positive for covid. They are all self-isolating, but despite that are being bombarded up to 10 times a day by NHS Test and Trace. It is the same story for Mr Brian Sayer and his family, who are self-isolating because a family member has tested positive. In Brian’s words, “We’re not stupid people; we don’t need pointless telephone calls every other day”, and Mrs Perry says, “What a waste of time and money.” When will the Secretary of State admit that the national system has failed, and when will he hand over testing and, more importantly, tracing to local directors of public health, who know their areas and their communities and know how to do test and trace properly?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman is completely wrong on two fronts.
William Wragg
Con
Hazel Grove
Question
Further to this consensual statement, we are all keen to be guided by the science, so what scientific behavioural assessment has been made of the effects of closing covid-secure venues on the likelihood of people meeting in one another’s homes instead, thus spreading the illness further? If my right hon. Friend has not got the information immediately to hand, perhaps he would care to write to me, as is the fashion.
Minister reply
I can answer the question. My hon. Friend makes an important point.
Tonia Antoniazzi
Lab
Gower
Question
As the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on cancer, I thank the Secretary of State for a recent meeting regarding the Catch Up With Cancer campaign. I, too, pay tribute to those delivering frontline cancer services throughout the pandemic, but the 63% figure that he mentioned does not reflect the totality of the backlog, as the NHS has announced new figures since then. In August, the number of people waiting more than 52 weeks in England continued to surge to more than 110,000—the most in 12 years. The only way that the backlog will go away is through action and resources being deployed to tackle it. What progress has he made to address the need for a boost to cancer services, so that cancer does not become the forgotten “c”?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is absolutely right to raise that issue.
Greg Clark
Lab
Islington North
Question
The concern that many of us have is that restrictions can be imposed in a day, but take months to lift. In London, the restrictions were imposed not because of a higher level of infections, admissions to hospital or deaths, but because of a rapidly increasing rate of infection. If it turns out, when the Secretary of State conducts his fortnightly review next week, that the rate of increase of infection is no greater in London than in places in a lower tier, will he rescind those restrictions and return it to a lower tier?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend makes an important point.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Question
Earlier this year, the Government committed to give the NHS whatever resources it needed. The NHS has that money for dealing with coronavirus, but will need more to treat backlog conditions.
Minister reply
We have provided extra resource, hired people and built facilities to address backlogs in areas like cancer treatment.
Question
Supports targeted approach rather than broad-brush lockdown. Requests disaggregation of London areas where case rates are below 100 per 100,000.
Minister reply
Agrees to take a borough-by-borough approach and will consider the point about south-west London.
Question
Families are concerned about impact of isolation on dementia patients in care homes, requests for regular meaningful visiting for every resident.
Minister reply
Acknowledges importance but emphasises need to protect residents from the disease given local circumstances and staff living in communities.
Question
Welcomes introduction of three alert levels, asks if Rugby staying on tier 1.
Minister reply
Yes. Tier system helps motivate people to follow rules to stay at level 1.
Question
Asks if people can survive winter with workplaces closed and receiving only two thirds of the national minimum wage.
Minister reply
Proud of introducing national living wage to support lowest paid across UK, alongside economic support during crisis.
North Cotswolds
Question
Approves localised lockdowns but suggests involving both national and local resources in Gloucestershire for tracking and tracing.
Minister reply
Agrees.
Derek Twigg
Lab
Widnes and Halewood
Question
Inquires about difference between closure of gyms in Liverpool and Merseyside vs. opening in Lancashire.
Minister reply
Decision was taken in consultation with local authorities.
Question
Asks to commend local public health message from Bucks NHS trust and council, encouraging other authorities to follow suit.
Minister reply
Applauds the work done across Bucks for delivering such messages.
Bill Esterson
Lab
Sefton Central
Question
Asks when local public health teams will receive £300 million funding and data from Serco.
Minister reply
Tests hit 300,000/day for the first time over weekend; contact tracers contacted more than double people compared to previous week.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Question
Inquires about research on far-ultraviolet C light emitted by krypton-chlorine lamps inactivating coronavirus.
Minister reply
Seen the research, happy to discuss how it might be applied.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
Requests bringing forward job support scheme by eight days and increasing support level.
Minister reply
Furlough scheme continues until end of month, job support scheme replaces it; supports everyone in difficult times.
Peter Bone
Con
Wellingborough
Question
The MP congratulates the Secretary of State on achieving 500,000 tests a day and asks about false positive rates in current PCR testing technology.
Minister reply
The minister responds that the false positivity rate for the PCR test is lower than suggested by some scientists. He also highlights improvements in new technologies which reduce this issue further.
Julie Elliott
Lab/Co-op
Sunderland Central
Question
The MP expresses concern about lack of funding support for Test and Trace and financial assistance to local authorities in tier 2 areas.
Minister reply
The minister explains that discussions are ongoing with the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary regarding additional support. He highlights existing provisions such as extra support for Test and Trace.
Simon Fell
Con
Wyre
Question
The MP asks about adherence to tier rules across different levels and advises on sticking to the rules in Barrow to aid its transition from high to medium tiers.
Minister reply
The minister underscores the importance of following the rules for residents moving between tiers, stressing that compliance is key to reducing virus spread.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab/Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
The MP seeks additional provisions from the Chancellor to support small businesses in tier 2 areas struggling financially.
Minister reply
The minister agrees to speak with the Chancellor about further provisions. He highlights existing financial support measures like £500 per self-isolation for low-income individuals.
Wakefield
Question
The MP inquires about the exit strategy from tier 3 to lower tiers and asks for reassurance on maintaining virus containment.
Minister reply
The minister affirms that once case rates start declining, discussions can begin about easing restrictions. He emphasises the importance of continued compliance.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Question
The MP questions the effectiveness of sharing data with the police for enforcement and asks if a memorandum of understanding exists.
Minister reply
The minister clarifies that no health data is transferred, but enforcement is necessary once rules are made mandatory. He mentions £500 support for self-isolation.
Rachael Maskell
Lab/Co-op
York Central
Question
The MP requests the release of all data to local authorities and provision of resources for effective contact tracing.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges increased resources for York's contact tracing efforts, citing a combined national-local approach as key.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
Question
The MP contrasts UK's pandemic management with New Zealand’s success in ending domestic transmission and returning to normal life.
Minister reply
The minister defends the Government’s approach as focused on suppression, highlighting the complexity of eradication strategies globally.
Mary Robinson
Lab
Croydon North
Question
The MP suggests a borough-by-borough approach for Greater Manchester to account for local efforts in controlling transmission.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the work of Greater Manchester councils and expresses hope for constructive agreements with regional leadership.
Alec Shelbrooke
Con
Wetherby and Easingwold
Question
Asks the Secretary of State to arrange a roundtable on UV sanitisation technology for hospitality, with specific mention of constituents ready to contribute.
Minister reply
Agrees to organise a roundtable within two weeks.
Alison McGovern
Lab
Birkenhead
Question
Questions the Secretary of State about care homes' dilemmas and asks for more proactive policy support from the Department of Health.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the dilemma faced by care homes, mentions a winter plan for care homes, and offers to meet to discuss effective implementation.
Question
Requests clearer financial support frameworks and timescales for moving between tiers in West Yorkshire.
Minister reply
Explains the necessity of flexibility due to the unpredictable nature of the disease but commits to reviewing legislation after 28 days.
Question
Asks why quarantine rules remain strict for people arriving from low-risk countries, citing its detrimental impact on the travel industry.
Minister reply
Confirms that countries are reviewed weekly by the Transport Secretary.
Andrew Murrison
Con
South West Wiltshire
Question
Suggests vitamin D could reduce mortality and morbidity rates, asking for urgent advice on this intervention.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the suggestion and confirms increased communication about vitamin D benefits and additional research.
Angela Eagle
Lab
Wallasey
Question
Critiques inconsistency in gym closures across different areas under tier 3 restrictions, calling for evidence-based consistency.
Minister reply
Explains that decisions are made in consultation with local areas.
Question
Follows up on the inconsistency of gym openings and calls for a review to get gyms open again.
Minister reply
Agrees to consider the point regarding Southport's gyms and emphasises cooperation with local authorities.
Maria Eagle
Lab
Liverpool Garston
Question
Questions the effectiveness of Test and Trace systems in Liverpool and Knowsley, noting declining percentages.
Minister reply
Explains that complex settings have contributed to lower contact tracing rates but highlights efforts to improve with national and local collaboration.
Nusrat Ghani
Con
Sussex Weald
Question
Praises the Test and Trace system and raises an issue of courier delays in test collection.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the importance of care home testing, notes challenges, and commits to investigating courier issues.
Question
Suggests that outsourcing Test and Trace is ineffective and should be handled by local public health teams.
Minister reply
Reiterates the importance of a team effort rather than local handling alone.
Question
Asks for clarity on the review process for tier 3 restrictions in Blackpool and Lancashire, seeking a pathway out.
Minister reply
Confirms reviews every 28 days but emphasises flexibility to exit earlier if case numbers decline.
Chris Matheson
Lab
Cardiff South and Penarth
Question
I echo the words of my hon. Friend the Member for Garston and Halewood and thank the Secretary of State for his tribute to my dear friend Bill Anderson, who will be a great loss to my whole region and to the maritime community. The specific geography of Chester means that many businesses are being damaged on one side by restrictions and lockdowns in Wales and on the other by tier 3 restrictions in Merseyside. Will the Secretary of State provide financial support for businesses in Chester, which is being crushed between two lockdowns?
Minister reply
Of course I understand the point that the hon. Gentleman makes about Chester's unique situation due to its proximity to both Wales and Merseyside. The hospitality industry in Chester is important, but we are giving as much support as possible and will keep these things under review.
Wansbeck
Question
Will the Secretary of State give an update on the availability of the Roche reagent that Scunthorpe has seen a shortage of? Can he reassure me that those who need urgent blood tests can get one and that the lack of reagent will not affect covid tests?
Minister reply
Yes, I hope to reassure my hon. Friend that we have largely resolved the problem of supply for non-covid tests and that Roche supplies around 5,000 covid tests a day which were protected throughout.
Cat Smith
Lab
Lancaster and Wyre
Question
My constituents in Lancashire are confused by the changes in restrictions last week. They want to follow the rules but find it difficult with the constant changing of regulations. I ask for clearer communications from the Department. Additionally, district councils have not been told under what criteria they will be able to distribute financial support and have not had cash released from Government. When will this situation be addressed?
Minister reply
I defend the honour of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor who has put in huge amounts of economic support. The tier system was designed for straightforward rules but due to high case rates, the very high alert level is necessary to protect the local NHS and save lives.
Liverpool, West Derby
Question
The people of Lancashire and South Ribble understand that restrictions are about saving lives. However, they are weary after weeks of restrictions and worried about their jobs. Can the Secretary of State assure me and them that we will be in tier 3 for only as long as it takes to save lives?
Minister reply
The tier 3 restrictions are put in place when the local NHS is at risk of being overwhelmed, and they will not keep people in restrictions for one moment longer than necessary. The measures have been put in place with deep reluctance but are essential for saving lives while protecting the economy and supporting the NHS.
Shadow Comment
Jon Ashworth
Shadow Comment
The shadow minister expresses condolences for recent deaths due to coronavirus and critiques the government's response, noting that care home outbreaks are increasing and critical care admissions continue to rise. He welcomes progress on testing but questions the timeline and capacity for saliva tests and LAMP technology. Concerns about delays in test rollouts and tracing effectiveness are raised, with calls for better local public health team support. The opposition also criticises the financial impact of restrictions without adequate compensation, urging the government to provide a package to safeguard jobs. Additionally, they challenge the government's reluctance to adopt a circuit-break strategy despite rising R numbers elsewhere.
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