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Public Services
28 April 2020
Lead MP
Michael Gove
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSSocial CareNorthern IrelandForeign AffairsBusiness & TradeAgriculture & Rural AffairsParliamentary ProcedureStandards & EthicsLocal Government
Other Contributors: 47
At a Glance
Michael Gove raised concerns about public services 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
NHSSocial CareNorthern IrelandForeign AffairsBusiness & TradeAgriculture & Rural AffairsParliamentary ProcedureStandards & EthicsLocal Government
Government Statement
With permission, the Minister of State for Cabinet Office, Michael Gove, made a statement on the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He expressed gratitude towards frontline workers and acknowledged the impact of the virus, which has claimed over 20,000 lives in the UK. The minister highlighted that the government established four ministerial implementation groups to lead the country’s response to this crisis. These include Health Secretary-led work on NHS and social care; Chancellor-led support for business and economy; Foreign Secretary-led international response; and his own group overseeing public services beyond healthcare and social care, collaborating with devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Gove reported that the group has met 30 times to address impacts across various sectors including schools, police, prisons, courts, food supply chains, welfare system, charities, and vulnerable individuals. The government launched initiatives such as a free school meal voucher scheme (£29 million redeemed), the Oak National Academy for remote learning support, and a £100m commitment for disadvantaged children's educational needs.
The statement included actions to tackle rough sleeping (90% of known rough sleepers offered accommodation), military planning support across local resilience forums (156 embedded military planners), a covid-19 mobilisation force of 19,060 strong with 2,948 personnel deployed for civil authority tasks, and testing over 150,000 key workers and their families. The government also committed to support those newly vulnerable due to the virus, working closely with charities, volunteers, local authorities through a website (www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support) that supported more than 35,000 people since its launch on April 10th.
Gove concluded by acknowledging that while the government would not have gotten every judgment right, they remain committed to supporting frontline workers and working collaboratively with all available resources.
Coventry North West
Question
The MP asks if a report exists on how social care homes are being supported during the pandemic, specifically about the financial support and whether there is an increase in funding for adult social care.
Minister reply
The Minister responds by acknowledging the challenge of supporting those who work tirelessly in providing personal care. The Government has committed £2 billion to local councils to cover costs incurred due to coronavirus, ensuring that social care workers are supported financially.
James Davies
Con
Southampton Itchen
Question
The MP asks if the Minister can reassure local communities about the availability of protective equipment for healthcare workers and other frontline staff.
Minister reply
The Minister assures that additional supplies are coming in daily from various sources around the world. The government is constantly working to improve PPE distribution and address shortages as they arise.
William McCrea
DUP
South Antrim
Question
The MP asks about the status of protective equipment being supplied to care homes, including any assistance in the form of masks or gloves.
Minister reply
The Minister clarifies that care home staff are prioritised for PPE supplies. However, given current production constraints, he acknowledges delays but assures continued efforts to improve supply lines and ensure all necessary provisions reach frontline workers.
Steve McCabe
Lab
Birmingham Selly Oak
Question
The MP asks the Minister about the Government's testing capabilities for care homes and whether there are plans to expand this.
Minister reply
The Minister responds by confirming that testing capacity is being expanded, with more tests being made available specifically for frontline workers in social care settings.
Rachel Reeves
Lab
Leeds West and Pudsey
Question
The MP thanked the Minister for his statement on the coronavirus pandemic. She then raised concerns about social care, highlighting inaccurate government claims that deaths in care homes were falling based on outdated statistics from the Office for National Statistics. The most recent data shows a sharp increase in deaths outside hospitals and specifically in care homes due to COVID-19.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that the figures from the Office for National Statistics are indeed concerning, reflecting a deepening impact of the pandemic on communities. He acknowledged that while they want information as rapidly as possible, reliable data is crucial for an appropriate and adequate response. The Government will work with the Care Quality Commission and the Office for National Statistics to improve data collection.
Rachel Reeves
Lab
Leeds West and Pudsey
Question
The shadow questioned whether the Government would commit £75 million to domestic violence charities to support those struggling during lockdown, noting a 25% increase in calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and more than doubled deaths associated with domestic violence. She asked for an assessment of current PPE provisions for frontline workers such as the police.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that £750 million has been made available to charities dealing with domestic violence, including those supporting victims during lockdown. The Government is in discussions with the Treasury about allocating a proportion of this funding to organisations providing support to those at risk.
Rachel Reeves
Lab
Leeds West and Pudsey
Question
The MP raised concerns regarding the reopening of schools, urging for plans that are based on scientific advice. She also highlighted the issue of 1 million children lacking access to electronic devices essential for home learning.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed ongoing work with schools and local authorities to encourage more families to ensure vulnerable children attend school where they can receive support. He mentioned the virtual academy initiative and acknowledged the risk of increasing educational inequality during lockdown.
Rachel Reeves
Lab
Leeds West and Pudsey
Question
The shadow asked about face masks, their usage in public spaces, and the Government's preparation for their potential mandatory use. She also questioned how many face masks the Government has stockpiled.
Minister reply
Lord Agnew has launched a domestic effort to produce face coverings that limit droplets produced by individuals in particular settings. The Minister confirmed the details of PPE distributed, including 143 million masks, 163 million aprons, 1.8 million gowns, and 547 million gloves.
Jason McCartney
Con
Colne Valley
Question
Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking the wonderful volunteers and staff at McNair Shirts in Slaithwaite for the PPE gowns that they have produced for local hospitals in Huddersfield and Halifax? Will he also tell me what the Government are doing to improve the local procurement of protective equipment so that local companies and volunteers who are making their own PPE can get it to our frontline staff and carers—the ones who actually need it?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and commend the work of those in his constituency. We have seen a great national effort to support those on the frontline, including the establishment of scrub hubs and individuals providing additional material for NHS staff.
Pete Wishart
SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
Question
May I join the right hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to all those who work in our public services? They go way above and beyond in their duty of care for all nations... May I therefore ask the right hon. Gentleman some gentle questions?
Minister reply
I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his questions. On the subject of communication between the Government and parties, we have held 30 meetings where there were representatives from the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations. The stockpile was designed in accordance with advice on a flu pandemic but has been updated since then.
Jerome Mayhew
Con
Broadland and Fakenham
Question
May I wholeheartedly join my right hon. Friend in the tribute he paid to NHS staff and all the key workers throughout the four nations of our kingdom? As we draw close to the summer, the agricultural sector’s need for labour is increasing... With reduced access to foreign labour, what steps are the Government taking to support the agricultural sector?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The Environment Secretary has worked with the farming industry to ensure that more UK workers can support our farmers to produce the food we need.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
Question
We have seen Wales move ahead of the UK Government in many areas throughout this crisis, but in an effort to ensure greater collaboration, with decisions coming out of the lockdown made equally, the First Minister of Wales has called for a new weekly framework of decision making between the four nations. Will the right hon. Gentleman agree to that proposal?
Minister reply
It is not necessarily appropriate to have a full Cobra meeting every week. When those meetings do occur, we will ensure that all representatives—First Ministers or Deputy First Ministers—of the devolved Administrations are invited.
Question
The additional capacity for testing careworkers and their families if they have symptoms of covid-19 is welcome news, but what plans are there to extend that to all careworkers who have been in contact with residents or staff who have covid-19 and to those who work outside the NHS in other care sectors?
Minister reply
The number of tests capable of being administered has increased significantly. My hon. Friend is right: careworkers are at the front of the queue. We now have across the United Kingdom 48 testing centres, each of which will have two military units assigned to them.
Question
I want to press the Minister further on what he said to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds West (Rachel Reeves) about deaths in care homes... Why are the Government not doing a better job of valuing every tragic loss and informing policy better by making it a real priority to have up-to-date figures on all deaths from covid-19?
Minister reply
We do value every life. Every life is precious, and the deaths of those in care homes, in our hospitals and in the community are a source of grief, sadness and loss to us all. The figures that we produce are the figures that the Office for National Statistics validates.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for the “Pick for Britain” initiative, but why are the employers being so picky, with many people being told that their services are not required? What assessment has been made of the potential impact of mandatory quarantine on air travellers?
Minister reply
I would hope that all employers will make use of the willing hands available. On the question of quarantine and how we deal with international travel, it is important that we ensure that we depress the infection curve here.
Stephen Timms
Lab
East Ham
Question
Hundreds of thousands of people working legally in the UK have no recourse to public funds... Will the Government lift the no recourse to public funds restriction for the duration of this crisis, to give those hard-working families a chance?
Minister reply
This matter has been discussed at the Ministry with the implementation group and it is under review.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for the excellent work that he and his colleagues are doing, particularly on the gov.uk website, and ask that outdoor economy sectors such as garden centres will be in the first wave of modifications to current restrictions.
Minister reply
The minister thanked Mr Griffith for his kind words about the Government Digital Service and confirmed that one factor being considered when lifting current restrictions is the ease of disease spread outside versus inside.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
When was a full assessment made of PPE needs for social care providers, and when will Clipper be operational?
Minister reply
New guidance on appropriate use of PPE in health and social care settings was issued two weeks ago. The Clipper service is intended to ensure that all local resilience forums and service providers can have access to additional PPE.
Question
How is the minister working with devolved Administrations to provide timely advice on dealing with the pandemic?
Minister reply
The chief medical officers of all four parts of the UK meet regularly and share scientific advice. Efforts are being made to ensure a united approach when easing restrictions.
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that more support for public services is needed given the current crisis?
Minister reply
The minister acknowledged the importance of recognising the distinctive nature of each part of the UK and stressed that working together strengthens responses. The Scottish Government operates a deficit, but UK Government supports public service protection.
Question
Is my right hon. Friend working in a coordinated way with other Departments on a sustained recovery strategy for tourism and hospitality sectors?
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that the Chancellor and Business Secretary are considering measures to support these sectors, particularly coastal communities.
Question
Does the Minister accept that more routine data collection is needed to understand life in care homes better?
Minister reply
The minister agreed on the importance of collecting and making data open and transparent to tailor public service delivery effectively.
Question
Should those convicted of spitting, coughing or threatening key workers with COVID receive immediate custodial sentences?
Minister reply
The minister highlighted that the appropriate response would be determined by the police and criminal justice system.
Nadia Whittome
Lab
Nottingham East
Question
On what specific date will all care workers receive PPE?
Minister reply
The minister responded that it should be the case that all care workers are currently receiving PPE and offered to address any specific cases of non-delivery.
Question
Will my right hon. Friend’s committee consider a special honours list for those who have contributed during this crisis, including an annual day to celebrate NHS staff?
Minister reply
The minister expressed gratitude and willingness to pass the suggestion on to the Prime Minister.
Wendy Chamberlain
Lib Dem
North East Fife
Question
What measures are being taken to ensure trust in the NHS tracking app, given its developers' backgrounds?
Minister reply
The minister stated that the app is being developed by NHSX under Matthew Gould’s leadership.
Question
Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking postmen and women for their work during this crisis?
Minister reply
The minister thanked postal workers and those working in Royal Mail for ensuring individuals can stay connected.
Barnsley South
Question
How did the Government respond to an offer from the British Chambers of Commerce regarding PPE coordination?
Minister reply
The minister mentioned that there have been 10,256 offers overall for support with supply and distribution of PPE, with 30 specific offers being taken forward.
Laura Trott
Con
Sevenoaks
Question
Will conversations with unions continue regarding any changes to the lockdown?
Minister reply
The minister confirmed that engagements with trade union leaders, including Frances O’Grady and Len McCluskey, will ensure safe workplaces for public sector workers.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Question
Global experience indicates that widespread community testing is vital in tackling coronavirus. The Welsh Government had secured a deal with Roche to do 5,000 tests a day, which would have put Wales on a similar level of testing per head of some of the best-performing countries in the world only for Wales to be seemingly gazumped by the British Government. The UK Government are building mega labs in England and Scotland. Will they also commit to building a mega lab in Wales?
Minister reply
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point. Testing is something that needs to be done in a co-ordinated way across the United Kingdom. It is the case that the incidence of test take-up in some parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland, has been less than existing capacity. None the less, I am sure that Welsh scientists and Welsh medics will play a role in ensuring that we can test many more in the future.
Steve Double
Con
St Austell and Newquay
Question
Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster join me in thanking the Devon and Cornwall police for their proactive approach in preventing people travelling to Cornwall for non-essential purposes, including to visit their second homes and for a holiday? One of the biggest concerns for people in Cornwall is that, as we start to ease the lockdown, we will see an influx of people coming to Cornwall and risk another wave. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that as the Government consider lifting the restrictions, they will come with clear and enforceable travel restrictions to prevent that from happening?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right. Cornwall is beautiful and visiting it is a pleasure, but at the moment, and for some time to come, don’t.
Chris Elmore
Lab
Bridgend
Question
I would like to ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster a question about child sexual abuse and exploitation, and online platform management. Over the weekend, the Internet Watch Foundation reported that there had been an 89% reduction in the number of URLs that were taken down in the past month compared to the previous month, the comparison being 496 in the past month and 14,947 the month before. One of the concerns of the IWF and the industry more widely is the pressure on police in being able to take down indecent images and videos. In his deliberations in the Cabinet Office, will he ensure that the police have enough resources to ensure that children are protected from this form of paedophilia?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman raises an incredibly important point. The Home Secretary has updated my ministerial implementation group on some of the increased risks of child abuse during the pandemic. I will report back to our group and to her the very important point he makes.
Andrew Bowie
Con
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement. As he mentioned, one of the real positives to come out of the past few weeks has been the collaboration and close working between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations, which has avoided confusion and delivered clear, uniform messages and allowed those fighting the virus on the frontline, such as our amazing staff at NHS Grampian, to know that all levels of government are working for them. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that that collaborative approach will continue and that it is imperative that all our Governments continue to work closely together, demonstrating that the Union is still working?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely spot on. Of course, we recognise the competence of the devolved Administrations in their respective areas, but in dealing with the pandemic I have been impressed, cheered and reassured by the way in which Ministers in the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive have recognised that we are all in this together. As we seek to ease the restrictions there at the moment, the closer we can work together the better.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Worsley and Eccles South
Question
Local authorities like Salford City Council are on the frontline of fighting covid-19, from supporting our social care services to providing food for vulnerable people and supporting local businesses. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the Government will do whatever it takes to defeat covid-19, but councils are now facing the prospect of not having all their additional costs covered. It is imperative that the Government fully fund the cost of this vital local response. Will the Minister assure me that the Government will do that for Salford City Council?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been in touch regularly with local authority leaders and chief executives to make sure they have the resources they need and that some of the administrative burdens that are not necessary at this time are lifted. I will pass on to him the particular concerns the hon. Lady expresses on behalf of the citizens of Salford.
Wirral West
Question
My right hon. Friend referred to the work of the Army in his statement and the support that has been provided to local resilience forums. It is fantastic to see them playing their part, as they always do when our country finds itself in need. Will he outline what strategic role they will play moving forward, in particular whether, given their expertise at running operations in the field, they will be utilised to support mobile testing and getting tests to the places we need them?
Minister reply
Absolutely. I join my hon. Friend in thanking our military for all the support they are giving at the moment. It is the case that we have 48 regional test centres up and running. Each has two teams of military capable of dispensing and administering tests at a distance. One thing we are keeping under review is how we can expand that capacity even further in the future. The role of the military has been absolutely vital. I commend, in particular, Alex Cooper, one of the ex-servicemen who has been absolutely critical to making sure that the Department of Health and Social Care can do everything possible to deliver testing.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract and Castleford
Question
The Health Secretary promised me nearly two weeks ago that the Government would publish the scientific evidence behind the decision not to self-isolate people arriving at ports and airports, but he has not yet done so. If we look on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies website, there has been no update, it appears, in the publication of the scientific advice and evidence to the Government since 16 March, which is six weeks ago. It is inconceivable that the Government have not received more scientific advice and evidence since then. Given that transparency and trust should be at the heart of what the Government do and that getting these decisions right is crucial, why are the Government still not publishing the scientific evidence and advice?
Minister reply
The first thing to say about flights into this country is that many of them are carrying people who are being repatriated and many of them are carrying the personal protective equipment and other goods that we need here, but, as I mentioned earlier, the prospect of changing our approach is something that we are reviewing at the moment. She makes a broader point about the publication of scientific advice, and it is not for me to dictate what SAGE, NERVTAG—the new and emerging respiratory virus threats advisory group—or any of our independent scientific committees should or should not do, but I know that our chief scientific adviser has spoken about the importance of building confidence, and more will I am sure be said in due course.
Mark Harper
Con
Forest of Dean
Question
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will know how important it will be, as we move into the next phase of dealing with coronavirus, to maintain the high levels of public trust that the Government currently have. To avoid any unnecessary confusion, can he set out for the House, for the purposes of the 100,000 testing target, how the Government define a completed test?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend makes an important point, and there has been some confusion over capacity and tests administered. The target is tests administered, and the figure for the number of tests administered on Thursday, which is the day we have set for the target, will be published on Saturday.
Rosie Cooper
Lab
West Lancashire
Question
Our public health departments were once the envy of the world, so will the Minister give the country hope that the Government will reinstate them to their former glory by resourcing them properly and giving them and local authorities immediate access to the SAGE and Cobra planning assumptions, as well as to the NHSX covid-19 data warehouse? No one answer fits all: all local areas are reacting and are at different stages. Can the Minister give assurances?
Minister reply
Those are very good points, which I will consider and discuss with the Health Secretary.
Maria Miller
Con
Basingstoke
Question
Can my hon. Friend confirm that, as well as treating patients for covid-19, our NHS is very much there for people needing urgent access to healthcare, and will my right hon. Friend confirm that the NHS is open for business for everybody who needs it? Anybody who is suffering a stroke, a heart attack or other life-threatening conditions should not be deterred from seeking that important medical help.
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend makes a very important point. We must do everything we can to encourage people, particularly those with serious conditions such as cancer, to seek support from the NHS. The effective response that the NHS has mounted to the pandemic so far enables us to treat them as well.
David Linden
SNP
Glasgow East
Question
Before Parliament rose before the lockdown, I told the Government that the Soapworks company in my constituency was quite happy to provide soap, which we know is hugely important in this pandemic, but Soapworks has not been contacted by the Government. Can the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster please ensure that urgent contact is established with this company in my constituency that wants to play a part in this national effort?
Minister reply
Yes.
Gagan Mohindra
Con
South West Hertfordshire
Question
What contingency plans does my right hon. Friend have in place to ensure that our prisons, such as the Mount in my own patch, remain functional, given the increase in staff absences?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. The Lord Chancellor has ensured that we have a system in prisons where we effectively segment and isolate those who may have the virus. It is also the case that we have ensured that additional capacity has been sourced. There has also been a very targeted early release programme in order to ensure that we manage the estate appropriately.
James Murray
Lab Co-op
Ealing North
Question
Community testing and contact tracing will be crucial to keep infection as low as possible in the months ahead. Concerned about national recruitment of staff for phone-based system, asks if local authority staff will play a part in contact tracing and what role by when.
Minister reply
Contact tracing through NHS app and Public Health England staff; will consider with Health Secretary additional steps.
Question
Praises Kim Clark from Bishop Auckland for cooking and delivering over 6,000 meals to elderly and vulnerable.
Minister reply
Commends community spirit in County Durham and Bishop Auckland.
James Cartlidge
Con
South Suffolk
Question
Asks if household waste recycling centres will reopen soon due to the closure causing inconvenience with garden waste.
Minister reply
Will consider relaxing restrictions based on low risk and amenity benefits.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Question
Asks for criteria and selection process of SAGE group members, citing lack of representation from certain fields.
Minister reply
SAGE composed of top scientific minds committed to saving lives; no mention made of diversity.
Bury South
Question
Emphasises the importance of public support and suggests UK-wide implementation for next steps.
Minister reply
Agrees on importance of coordination between four parts of the United Kingdom to ease following guidance.
Shadow Comment
Rachel Reeves
Shadow Comment
The shadow minister for public health and social care, Rachel Reeves, began by thanking Michael Gove for his statement and advanced copy. She praised the NHS and social care workers before questioning the government's claims regarding declining deaths in care homes. The latest figures from the ONS showed a significant increase in deaths involving coronavirus outside hospitals, particularly in care homes.
Reeves inquired about daily data publication on these statistics alongside hospital figures for transparency. She also asked about the Government’s plans for reopening schools and ensuring safe conditions, considering one million children lack internet devices essential for remote learning.
Concerning PPE shortages reported by doctors through a Royal College of Physicians survey, Reeves sought clarification from Gove regarding the government's stockpile and distribution plan for face masks if mandated in public areas. She questioned the validity of the 1 billion PPE items figure provided by the Government, suggesting this number includes non-essential items like paper towels.
Reeves also asked about the timeline for implementing a “clipper” service enabling local councils to access necessary PPE and whether current standards meet WHO recommendations. She concluded urging the government to involve teachers, unions, businesses, and authorities in planning safe reintegration measures.
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