Covid-19 Update

Philip Davies Con

Darlington

Question

The MP asked about the rationale behind closing pubs while leaving betting shops open, questioning the fairness of such decisions. He also inquired about how businesses will survive without financial support and expressed concern for public reaction.

Minister reply

The Prime Minister responded by explaining that restrictions on pubs are based on scientific advice to limit social mixing indoors, which is more conducive to virus transmission than outdoors activities like betting shops.

Graham Stringer Lab

Blackley and Broughton

Question

The MP inquired about the criteria for moving areas into a very high alert level and requested greater transparency regarding test and trace data.

Minister reply

The Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of clear criteria and committed to working with local authorities to determine these measures, emphasising ongoing collaboration and review.

Rosena Allin-Khan Lab

Tottenham

Question

The MP raised concerns about the specific interventions required in areas under very high alert level, particularly regarding the closure of pubs and its impact on local businesses.

Minister reply

The Prime Minister reiterated that decisions are based on scientific advice to control the spread of infection indoors, while ensuring support for affected businesses through financial assistance schemes.

Sheryll Murray Con

Mid Dorset and North Poole

Question

The MP enquired about the Government's plans for the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators in hospitals across England.

Minister reply

The Prime Minister confirmed that there are ample stockpiles of PPE and ventilators, ready to be deployed as needed based on hospital requirements.

Chris Bryant Lab

Rhondda

Question

The MP questioned the effectiveness of current measures and asked for clarity on how they would prevent an uncontrolled second wave.

Minister reply

The Prime Minister emphasised that while these measures are not perfect, they represent a balanced approach based on scientific advice to suppress transmission rates.

James Duddridge Con

Rochford and Southend East

Question

The MP inquired about the impact of local restrictions on small businesses, particularly regarding financial support under the Government's scheme.

Minister reply

The Prime Minister assured that financial support measures are being expanded to cover up to two-thirds of wages for affected businesses, along with cash grants.

Keir Starmer Lab

Holborn and St Pancras

Question

I thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement and for his telephone call earlier today. We are at a critical moment—‘a tipping point’—with alarming trends in infection rates, more patients in hospital with covid than during March lockdown, rising deaths, need for decisive action. The question is whether announced restrictions can regain control over the virus and provide support to local businesses and communities. We will scrutinise the package and economic measures but I am deeply sceptical about the Government’s ability to control the virus or protect jobs. There have been failures in previous measures such as the rule of six, hospitality restrictions, and the track and trace system. Public confidence is eroded; the support packages announced by the Chancellor are insufficient for many people on minimum wage. Local leaders must be involved in future decisions.

Minister reply

We are working with local leaders to put in place measures that protect populations, keep the economy moving, drive the virus down and save lives. The right hon. Gentleman should support restrictive measures where necessary.

Iain Duncan Smith Con

Chingford and Woodford Green

Question

Welcomes the Government’s strategy to drive down infection rates while searching for a vaccine, raises point about availability of antivirals remdesivir and ivermectin to reduce likelihood of hospitalisation and death.

Minister reply

We have better treatments but with more people being admitted to hospital every day we must get the virus down.

Ian Blackford

Question

Asks if policy is to bring R rate below 1 through highest-level interventions, asks about proportion of tests taking longer than 48 hours to process and steps being taken to ensure no backlog in processing. Asks for certainty and security for businesses and workers with extension of full furlough scheme beyond October, confirms that devolved Administrations will be able to trigger financial support directly without approval from UK Government when putting an area under heightened restrictions.

Minister reply

Capacity has increased, introducing new testing sites and labs for testing. Emphasises importance of enforcement, testing and tracing, and following guidance. Chancellor’s latest job support scheme is competitive with other European countries and more generous than many; will continue to put arms around every worker and business in the country. Uplift in universal credit will remain present for rest of financial year.

Jeremy Hunt Con

Godalming and Ash

Question

This morning, it was announced that the routine testing of asymptomatic NHS staff in hotspot areas would start. Does my right hon. Friend agree that evidence from China, Korea and Italy shows that localised interventions are necessary to avoid a second national lockdown?

Minister reply

My right hon. Friend is absolutely correct. Local leaders should accept our offer and go into tier 3 where necessary.

Edward Davey Lib Dem

Kingston and Surbiton

Question

The Government have asked a lot from people during the pandemic, but it seems their sacrifices have been squandered by the failure to build a robust test, trace and isolate system. Will the Prime Minister promise that new sacrifices will not be squandered?

Minister reply

We are working hard with colleagues across parties to get our messages across, and I believe they can be effective if delivered jointly with local authorities.

Kate Griffiths Con

Burton and Uttoxeter

Question

Pubs will appreciate the support available through the job support scheme in a local lockdown. Will my right hon. Friend consider the impact on breweries which won't be eligible for the support but have no pubs to sell to?

Minister reply

The regular job support scheme is available to businesses that are open but not trading as they would want.

Jeffrey M. Donaldson Con

N/A

Question

Will the Prime Minister commit to putting his arms around people who have not yet benefited from various schemes introduced by the Government?

Minister reply

We will continue to look after self-employed individuals, £13.5 billion of support has been provided so far.

Philip Davies Con

N/A

Question

Instead of a constant blizzard of arbitrary rules that will serve only to collapse the economy and destroy businesses and jobs, should the Prime Minister remind people about social distancing, hand washing, and protecting at-risk individuals?

Minister reply

The best decision for individuals is to follow guidance: wash hands; face; space; protect NHS and save lives.

Liz Saville-Roberts PC

Dwyfor Meirionnydd

Question

People from Conwy, with 122 cases per 100,000 people, are not permitted to make non-essential journeys into Meirionnydd next door where the rate is much lower. How is this fair?

Minister reply

The guidance is clear that people from areas with very high levels should not be making those journeys.

Bernard Jenkin Con

Harwich and North Essex

Question

Is it better to bring in decisive measures before the number of cases climbs, provided these are effective and there is economic support for sectors such as hospitality?

Minister reply

My hon. Friend is completely right, that is why we are bringing in this package.

Caroline Lucas Green

N/A

Question

Does the Prime Minister regret handing billions over to the private sector for test and trace system which has failed spectacularly? Will he now give control back to local public health teams?

Minister reply

£13.5 billion has been given to support self-employed individuals, we need both a national and a local approach.

Desmond Swayne Con

New Forest West

Question

What does the Prime Minister make of the World Health Organisation’s statement that they do not advocate lockdowns as the primary means of control?

Minister reply

I totally agree with what David Nabarro had to say. The best way to control this virus is common-sensical restrictions on person-to-person contact.

Stephen Farry Alliance

N/A

Question

Will the Prime Minister follow through on his commitment to give the Northern Ireland Executive financial firepower to tackle a deteriorating situation?

Minister reply

Businesses in Northern Ireland will receive exactly the same support based on Barnett consequentials.

Jane Stevenson Con

N/A

Question

My fantastic pubs and restaurants have done everything asked of them, and now they face no financial support at all and a devastating effect on their viability. Will he urgently look at that?

Minister reply

The job support scheme is precisely available to pubs, restaurants and businesses in her constituency.

George Howarth Lab

N/A

Question

If we are to tackle the rises in covid-19 in Liverpool City Region, do we need a much more effective track, trace and isolate system? Will he establish a taskforce including NHS, local authorities, Metro Mayor and stakeholders?

Minister reply

We are already working with the Liverpool City Region on improving local test and trace.

Sarah Dines Con

N/A

Question

Why will the Prime Minister not review the level of statutory sick pay or extend holiday hunger food voucher programme to cover half-term and Christmas holidays?

Minister reply

We have given substantial sums—£380 million already—to provide meals for kids in need of free school meals.

Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op

Harrow West

Question

Tragically, economic hardship will rise. Why won't the Prime Minister review statutory sick pay or extend holiday hunger food voucher programme?

Minister reply

Through universal credit and other support, we are helping families across this country throughout this crisis.

Andrew Mitchell Con

Sutton Coldfield

Question

Welcomes the collaborative approach with local government and mayors, but questions why west midlands remains at level 1 despite other regions being in higher restrictions.

Minister reply

The virus's rise is not uniform across the country; judgments are made based on current data.

Derek Twigg Lab

Widnes and Halewood

Question

Asks why Halton, which has a lower infection rate than other areas, is in the highest restriction tier.

Minister reply

The government adapts plans as the epidemic changes to keep education open and support the economy.

Graham Brady

Question

Asks for reassurance that areas not under the highest restrictions will not face permanent state of restrictions.

Minister reply

Restrictions are reviewed constantly, aiming to lift them as fast as possible.

Drew Hendry

Question

Questions how constituents facing reductions in universal credit will pay their bills without support from the government.

Minister reply

The government has increased universal credit by about £7 billion, which remains in place for this financial year.

Steven Baker

Question

Inquires about when vulnerable populations can expect to be vaccinated and expresses concern over lack of certainty.

Minister reply

There are hopeful signs from trials but a vaccine cannot be guaranteed, as SARS still lacks one after 18 years.

Dawn Butler Lab

Brent East

Question

Critiques the government's investment in privatised companies for public health and calls for decentralised testing.

Minister reply

A mixed approach combining national Test and Trace with local authority work is taken.

Dehenna Davison

Question

Asks about lifting restrictions on households meeting within pubs in tier 2 areas and additional financial support for hospitality businesses.

Minister reply

Supports the JSS, business rate cut, and grants; best to get virus under control to lift restrictions.

Hilary Benn Lab

Leeds South

Question

Asks about assurances for viable businesses in Leeds if forced to close and protection against evictions.

Minister reply

The scheme is internationally competitive; eviction protections extended by six months.

Mike Wood Con

Kingswinford and South Staffordshire

Question

Questions about access to childcare throughout the pandemic.

Minister reply

Commits to providing 30 hours of free childcare; keeping economy moving as much as possible.

Ben Bradshaw

Question

Asks for strategy on containing spikes in student accommodation without impacting wider communities.

Minister reply

Acknowledges students' role in following guidance to prevent spread and thanks them.

Caroline Ansell

Question

Welcomes localised actions but asks about hyper-localising measures and support for jobs and businesses.

Minister reply

Hyper-localisation is ideal, yet disease may not allow; best to follow the set package of measures.

Liz Twist Lab

Blaydon and Consett

Question

Inquires about funding local authorities in the north-east for test and trace services.

Minister reply

Up to £1 billion is being put into supporting local authorities, and £500 million for test and trace.

Jerome Mayhew Con

Broadland and Fakenham

Question

While rightly moving to simplify the message, does my right hon. Friend agree that flexible local approaches are the best way to tackle outbreaks in order to prevent a total lockdown and minimise the wider economic impact, particularly on low-incidence-level areas such as Broadland?

Minister reply

That is exactly right. That is the strategy that we have been pursuing for some time now, and that is why it is necessary to intensify the restrictions in some areas.

Mohammad Yasin Lab

Bedford

Question

The Prime Minister keeps telling us that test and trace provision is being increased, yet the covid-19 testing facility at Bedford’s Borough Hall has just reduced its service provision from seven to four days a week at a time when the infection rates are rising. So I have a simple question, Prime Minister: why?

Minister reply

I would be happy to write to the hon. Gentleman about the test centre that he mentions. As I have said, we are increasing test and trace capacity and the number of tests conducted the whole time. As I said, I will be happy to write to him about the particular case he mentions, but it is still the case that this country continues to test more people and conduct more tests than any other country in Europe.

Edward Timpson

Question

The decision to place Cheshire in tier 2, and the additional restrictions that that will entail, will inevitably impact on families and businesses across Eddisbury, not least the already decimated wedding industry and its existing supply chain. Will my right hon. Friend look again at what further targeted support can be made available for that industry, which will struggle to remain viable through another six months of effectively being closed?

Minister reply

I have real sympathy for those in the wedding industry who have been affected. It is a great industry, and times are very tough for them. That is why we are putting in the jobs support scheme and extra grants for businesses. The best way forward is for us to get the virus down and get the spread down, so that we can reopen those types of businesses as fast as possible.

Gavin Newlands

Question

Many of my constituents support covid-19 public health measures, but they feel that, despite their rhetoric, the Government have not reciprocated. It is not only those 3 million who are excluded from support, there are also those on universal credit who will lose the £20 weekly top-up, those on legacy benefits who receive nothing, or those who missed out on furlough because their payroll was run one day after an arbitrary and retrospective date. The Prime Minister has boasted about putting his arms around people, but is it not time to show people that he has a heart?

Minister reply

I must repeat what I said earlier: by other global standards this Government have done a huge amount—£190 billion already—to support people, businesses, jobs, and livelihoods across the country. On the specific point about universal credit, we have increased its value by £1,000, and that will remain in place for the rest of this financial year.

Selaine Saxby

Question

Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking Devon County Council and Public Health Devon for their response to the virus so far, where swathes of local actions are in place to contain local outbreaks? Does he agree that it is vital for national and local government work together to tackle differences in the regional prevalence of this virus?

Minister reply

Yes. I thank my hon. Friend, and everybody in Devon, and the local authorities, for their efforts to keep the virus down. This is a giant collective effort, and alas, even in the south-west we are seeing the virus going up, although by nothing like as much as in other parts of the country. It is going up across the whole country, and we must work together to get it down.

Kevan Jones

Question

The Prime Minister says that he is listening and working with local authorities, but that simply is not true. Since the beginning of the crisis, local authorities and directors of public health have argued for a locally based test and trace system. When will he admit that his national approach and national system has failed? Will he hand over to local authorities and directors of public health the responsibility and resources to ensure an effective local test and trace system? That is the only way we will get on top of this crisis.

Minister reply

I think I have answered that point about four times already. We need a combination of both national and local.

Miriam Cates

Question

Parents in my constituency rely on friends and family for informal childcare, and even under the new three-tier restrictions I believe that informal, pre-arranged childcare can continue. As a new parent himself, I am sure my right hon. Friend understands that sometimes circumstances dictate that parents need emergency childcare. That is happening more and more with childminders or nursery staff having to isolate. Will the Prime Minister confirm that emergency informal childcare can still be used to assist parents, even under the three-tier system?

Minister reply

Tell me about it, Mr Speaker! My hon. Friend makes an important point, and there are obviously provisions for 30 hours of free childcare. Her point about emergency childcare is well made. That is why we need to keep the economy moving in the way that we are.

Neil Coyle Lab

Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Question

The chief execs of 17,000 hospitality businesses—representing half a million jobs and millions of customers every week, including many in my central London Southwark constituency—say that not one of them has seen a super-spreader incident and none has had direct contact from the tracing system. Testing and tracing is not working, so why will the Prime Minister not get a grip and fix those systems, instead of floundering, trying to find someone else to blame, and putting more lives and more jobs at risk?

Minister reply

That is why we are investing massively in NHS Test and Trace, and in a co-ordinated local effort. As I have said before, we are now testing more people than any other country in Europe, and we have contacted hundreds of thousands of people across the country and persuaded them to slow the spread of the virus. Rather than continually knocking NHS Test and Trace, let us work together to support it and build public confidence.

Virginia Crosbie

Question

The Prime Minister and the Government have been faced with a crisis the like of which we have not seen since world war two. Despite everything, they have kept our NHS safe and casualties to a minimum, and the economy continues to function. Will the Prime Minister commit 100% to my constituents on Ynys Môn to do everything he can to prevent a second UK-wide lockdown, and join me in thanking them for their incredible effort in keeping our island's infection rates down?

Minister reply

I thoroughly congratulate the people of Ynys Môn on what they are doing and on keeping infection rates down. I hope that they will continue to work with the rest of the country to follow the guidance and save lives.

Catherine McKinnell Lab

Newcastle upon Tyne North

Question

Thousands of women are carrying the anxiety not only of bringing new life into this world in the middle of a pandemic, but of potentially having to go into labour alone. Despite changes to the Government’s guidelines, too few hospitals are allowing women to take a birth partner into hospital with them. As somebody who experienced very painful and long labours, I cannot bear the idea of a woman facing that alone. In order that we do not look back in shame on how we treated pregnant women and new mothers during this period, will the Prime Minister do what he can to make sure that hospitals do their bit to ensure that women do not face labour alone?

Minister reply

I wholly share the hon. Lady’s feelings about the vital importance of allowing women to have a birth partner with them during labour. As she rightly says, we have changed the guidelines to make that possible, but if she has particular cases in mind where this is not happening, I would be grateful if she would write to me with the details.

Anthony Browne

Question

The Government have quite rightly focused on protecting the NHS, but we also need to keep the NHS serving patients in South Cambridgeshire, which, like other parts of the country, has relatively low levels of covid, but plenty of people with other medical conditions that need planned and emergency care. As the second wave strikes, can the Prime Minister tell me what steps the Government are taking to ensure that all patients, whatever their condition, can carry on getting the treatment that they need?

Minister reply

My hon. Friend is spot on. It is so important to avoid an uncontained second wave in order to protect the NHS, and allow the treatments and therapies for other non-covid afflictions to continue.

Yvette Cooper Lab

Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley

Question

Just a month ago, the Prime Minister described his moonshot plan, under which millions of tests would be done and returned every day. He said, “if everything comes together, it may be possible even for challenging sectors like theatres to have life much closer to normal before Christmas.” Families are now feeling that a normal Christmas is further away than ever, and local health officials in our area have said that people are waiting for six days, not a day, to get their test results. If we could come back from the moon and get back to what is happening on planet Earth, when will he have enough testing capacity in place so that my constituents can get their results in 24 hours?

Minister reply

The daily test process has gone up by 34% just in the last month, and daily capacity has gone up by 28%. As the right hon. Lady knows, by the end of this month, NHS Test and Trace is confident that it will be doing 500,000 tests—it will have capacity, I should say, for 500,000 tests a day.

Harriett Baldwin Con

West Worcestershire

Question

No one envies the Prime Minister having to make these incredibly difficult decisions. Last week’s Office for National Statistics community survey showed that by far and away the biggest age group catching the virus is the student age group. Since age is a much bigger predictor of risk than geography, are the Prime Minister’s advisers considering making recommendations about how individuals can control their own risk by age?

Minister reply

One of the issues that we have—I tried to address this point earlier—particularly with the large numbers of multi-generational households such as we have in this country, is that it is very difficult to confine the virus to one age group and one generation. Alas, one of the reasons we are so concerned is that it is starting to spread quite substantially among the over-60s, as we are seeing now in the Merseyside region.

Vicky Foxcroft Lab

Lewisham North

Question

Prime Minister, disabled people have felt like an afterthought throughout this pandemic. I would like to ask one simple question that requires only a yes or no answer. Will there be a sign language interpreter at your press conference this evening?

Minister reply

I doubt we will get one in time, but the point is registered.

Kevin Hollinrake Con

Thirsk and Malton

Question

Now that we have data that is super-local data, can we have restrictions that are super-local? Rather than looking at things on the county-wide level of North Yorkshire, where we have varying levels of incidence, can we look at them at a district council level, as Hambleton and Ryedale, which have very low levels of transmission?

Minister reply

I hear my hon. Friend, and I understand the point that he makes. Alas, as I said earlier, micro control of this virus is very difficult without restricting people’s freedom of movement in such a way as to be very difficult for people in Yorkshire.

Andrew Bowie Con

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Question

With that in mind, will the Prime Minister confirm that a four nation, whole-UK approach remains at the heart of what the Government are trying to achieve in combating coronavirus?

Minister reply

Yes, and I thank my hon. Friend for what he does to make sure that happens. The ways that we co-operate are much more significant than the differences between us.

Geraint Davies

Question

Will the Prime Minister confirm that people who can work from home should do so? Therefore, will he reinstate digital democracy in this Parliament, which allowed MPs to participate in debates and ask questions while self-isolating or shielding so that they do not risk infecting other people as they travel to work, infecting others at work or being infected themselves?

Minister reply

On this matter, Mr Speaker, I defer to you and the House authorities.

Lee Anderson Reform

Ashfield

Question

My constituents in Ashfield have worked incredibly hard to obey all the rules and guidelines to keep covid at bay. I am therefore deeply disappointed that we have found ourselves in the same lockdown situation as Nottingham, where rates are eight times higher. We are not in tier 3, as I first feared, but that is not a fair reward for my constituents. Can my right hon Friend please assure me that our rates will be reviewed on a weekly basis, and that when they come down we will be taken out of tier 2?

Minister reply

I thank my hon. Friend for representing his constituents well in the way he does. Of course, we will make sure that we regularly review the measures for his constituency, and indeed for every constituency in this country.

Clive Efford Lab

Eltham

Question

The only thing that is world beating about the Prime Minister’s track and trace system is its capacity to take taxpayers’ money and put it in the hands of friends of the Tory party, and deliver a chaotic system. That contrasts with the performance of local government, which has performed miracles at a local level while being starved of resources by the Government, who promised money and then reneged on that promise. Will the Prime Minister now provide the resources to local government if he is going to give it extra responsibility in delivering track and trace?

Minister reply

I note the ideological scorn of any private sector work, which I thought I had left the Labour party these days, but does not seem to have done. I share the hon. Gentleman’s veneration of local authorities, as a creature of local government myself, and that is why we have given an extra £3.7 billion to support local authorities in this crisis. As I told the House just now, there is a billion more to come.

Gareth Davies Con

Grantham and Bourne

Question

Lincolnshire is a vast rural county with many large towns. Can the Prime Minister assure me that any future restrictions and measures imposed on my county will be as targeted as possible and be made together with Lincolnshire County Council leadership?

Minister reply

It is the burden of what I am saying today that we want to do everything in co-operation with local leaders and local authorities.

Jessica Morden Lab

Newport East

Question

Football clubs such as Newport County AFC have, like many industries, been hard hit by the pandemic. They need to see the Premier League stick to its obligations to provide assistance to lower division clubs. Will the Prime Minister ensure that happens?

Minister reply

Yes, indeed I will.

Richard Holden Con

Basildon and Billericay

Question

I thank the Prime Minister and the Chancellor for the £200 billion they have already put in, which has supported employers and employees in my constituency, but North West Durham constituents in events and hospitality are under severe pressure at the moment, with restrictions already hammering their bottom line. In County Durham, what support is available for businesses? Does the Prime Minister know when the negotiations on whether we will be in tier 3 or tier 3 will be determined with local authorities?

Minister reply

For the implications for his constituency, my hon. Friend should look at the gov.uk website. He should be in no doubt that the Government are committed to supporting businesses, jobs and livelihoods across the country. That is why my right hon Friend the Chancellor unveiled the job support scheme, and it is why we have uprated universal credit and put in many other measures, including cuts in VAT and business rates, that will continue for a long time to come.

Sammy Wilson DUP

East Antrim

Question

The Prime Minister has the difficult task of leading the country through this health crisis, and it should not be used to score political points in the way that it has been by some today. However, does he recognise the real concern that there is, even among many supporters of his party, at the impact of the policies that have been followed? There is also questioning of the effectiveness of those policies, because we are back today where we were in March of this year. What assessment has he made of the impact of the policies announced today, in terms of the forced closure of businesses, whether that is on jobs, bankruptcies, long-term health or increased levels of poverty?

Minister reply

With respect to the right hon. Gentleman, we are not back to where we were in March, because the R is not at those levels and we are not going back to a national lockdown of the kind we saw in March. What we are doing is taking a series of carefully modulated local and national measures designed together to get the R down, keep education going and keep the economy moving.

Saqib Bhatti Con

Meriden

Question

My constituents in Meriden have worked really hard to comply with the guidelines, and I am sure they will adapt to the new tier system to protect the NHS and keep the rate of infection low. Because they have worked so hard, will the Prime Minister commit to working to review things and get them out of tier 2 as soon as possible? They have been doing their part, and they deserve it.

Minister reply

Yes. I am aware of the feelings in the midlands and, indeed, around the country. I can tell the people of Meriden that we want to get them out of any kind of restrictions as fast as we possibly can.

Christine Jardine Lib Dem

Edinburgh West

Question

Prime Minister, we are all disappointed and distressed that we are back where we were in March in many ways. The Prime Minister says that he wants to keep the economy going, but for many businesses and individuals, particularly the clinically vulnerable, that will be impossible. Will the Prime Minister and Chancellor end this chop and change, knee-jerk reaction approach that we have seen in recent days and extend the job retention scheme and furlough until next June so that businesses and individuals can have certainty and clarity about the support they will get, which will enable them to plan their way through this crisis?

Minister reply

I understand the point that the hon. Lady makes, but she will also understand that the schemes that my right hon Friend the Chancellor has announced go on until next spring. We should not forget that the original furlough scheme has yet to elapse.

Andrew Jones

Question

The Nightingale hospital in Harrogate has been stood up ready for full-staff readiness. That 500-bed hospital was built in 18 days by 600 people—staff from the NHS, our armed services, Harrogate Borough Council and colleagues from the private sector. It was an example of local and national working together. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that that combination of local and national, public and private is the way to bring all the resources we can to tackle this pandemic?

Minister reply

Yes, indeed. I can assure the people of Harrogate and elsewhere that we are stepping up preparations across the country, but the Nightingales, as I think Stephen Powis of the NHS has confirmed, are being stood up in the north of the country as well.

Toby Perkins Lab

Chesterfield

Question

The Prime Minister will be as aware as anyone that people do not generally go to the pub to meet their own wife; they go to the pub to be with other people. In the current programme that the Prime Minister has put together, there is no support for those pubs, so he is saying that he will cover and support pubs that are forced to close, but many of those pubs will find their business model and their businesses untenable. Will the Prime Minister do more to support those pubs that might be open but, frankly, are not able to make a living?

Minister reply

That is exactly why, on top of the low business rates, the VAT cuts and so on—and the grants that we have given—the job support scheme is directly designed to support those businesses that will remain open, like pubs, but which are not able to trade as they normally would under some of these restrictions. That is what it is there for.

Felicity Buchan

Question

Businesses in my central London constituency are hurting because of the low footfall. While of course we need to take appropriate measures to control the virus, does my right hon Friend agree with me that we need to balance the interests of the economy, because it is only with a functioning economy that we can pay for our excellent NHS?

Minister reply

My hon. Friend is completely right, and that is why I made the point, in almost identical terms, earlier on.

Lucy Powell Lab Co-op

Manchester Central

Question

Thanked the Prime Minister for listening to calls from Members regarding tier 2 status and requested a commitment to working with Greater Manchester leaders on tackling household transmission, questioning if closing pubs and restaurants would make material difference in transmission.

Minister reply

Acknowledged Jonathan Van-Tam's statement about transmission in hospitality settings. Emphasised the need for reducing overall virus transmission budget and expressed interest in collaboration with Greater Manchester regarding lowering infection rates.

Rob Butler

Question

Asked if there is a scientific basis for restrictions on economic activity, given low infection rates locally.

Minister reply

Confirmed that there is always a scientific basis for such restrictions.

Ian Mearns

Question

Suggested a comprehensive national strategy with locally led responses and requested resources promised to local authorities in the north-east.

Minister reply

Acknowledged £190 billion support, stating it is looking for locally led responses.

Jane Hunt

Question

Asked how businesses can use a risk assessment base under the three-tier system to remain open in all but very high-tier instances.

Minister reply

Emphasised that all covid-secure businesses should be able to keep operating.

Stuart McDonald

Question

Asked for support for newly self-employed individuals facing bankruptcy due to the cut-off date for self-employed support.

Minister reply

Acknowledged sympathy but emphasised need for fraud prevention, and referred them to universal credit support.

Rob Roberts

Question

Called on the Government in Wales to publish their information and justify travel restrictions that impact businesses negatively, despite no mandated closures.

Minister reply

Echoed concerns about Welsh government restrictions and mentioned job support system for affected businesses.

Kerry McCarthy Lab

Bristol East

Question

Asked the Prime Minister to review a constituent's case where partner was denied attendance at scans due to pregnancy complications.

Minister reply

Acknowledged the issue and promised to look into it.

Robin Millar

Question

Discussed importance of shared responsibility in tackling pandemic, citing low compliance rates for self-isolation despite financial incentives and penalties.

Minister reply

Emphasised importance of shared responsibility and cited £500 support and potential £10,000 fine for non-compliance.

Kim Johnson Lab

Liverpool Riverside

Question

Asked the Government to ensure financial support for businesses under highest restrictions in Liverpool city region.

Minister reply

Confirmed commitment to grants and job support system as part of compensation measures.

Mark Pawsey

Question

Noted anomaly where car boot sales occur despite strict curfew on pubs, requested off-licences be treated equally under 10 o'clock closing rule.

Minister reply

Acknowledged point and urged observance of guidance.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle

Question

Called for reconsideration of job support scheme to ensure minimum wage earners receive adequate compensation, discouraging them from breaking rules due to financial hardship.

Minister reply

Acknowledged concern and referred to extended job support system and universal credit safety net.

Laurence Robertson

Question

Suggested anomaly with car boot sales permitted while racing venues are restricted, requested permission for sporting venues to open safely.

Minister reply

Emphasised willingness to allow activities in a covid-secure way and urged observance of social distancing.

Diana R. Johnson Lab

Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham

Question

Asked if Hull University should set up their own testing facility for all students, including asymptomatic ones.

Minister reply

Promised to investigate obstacle preventing Hull from setting up such testing facilities.

Tobias Ellwood Con

Bournemouth East

Question

I repeat Bournemouth University’s offer to establish a testing lab on its campus to help the local community. I welcome today’s statement, but the Prime Minister is well aware of the importance of the hospitality industry to Bournemouth’s economy. I would be very grateful if he reviewed the 10 pm curfew as urgently as possible.

Minister reply

I understand my right hon. Friend’s point and I have every sympathy with Bournemouth’s hospitality industry, which I have enjoyed many times in the past, as I am sure we all have. Alas, we have to make restrictions in the overall volume of transmission that is taking place in our society. That is an obvious place to make a difference, and that is what we are doing.

Jim Shannon DUP

Strangford

Question

Could the Prime Minister provide an outline of his discussions with the First Minister, with special reference to the proposed circuit breakers that some chief medical officers are calling for, acknowledging that they would be successful only if they were UK-wide and centrally funded, as there is simply no funding available at present to allow businesses to continue to operate if they are forced to close yet again? This is particularly relevant to areas such as mine in Strangford, which has the second-lowest number of cases in the whole of Northern Ireland.

Minister reply

One of the problems is that places like Strabane in Northern Ireland have about 820 cases per 100,000, which is about the highest in the UK, perhaps in the whole of Europe. That is why we have to take the actions we are taking. I hear what the hon. Gentleman says about the circuit breaker. We want to give these measures time to work, if we possibly can.

Flick Drummond Con

Meon Valley

Question

May I thank the Prime Minister for his welcome statement? I have been visiting pubs and event businesses in Meon Valley, where the covid transmission rate is below the national average. What reassurance can he give to businesses, which are looking to plan ahead, that restrictions will be lifted flexibly where transmissions revert to a low level?

Minister reply

I can give my hon. Friend every possible assurance that as soon as transmission is obviously down—as soon as we have got the R down below 1— things will change very much indeed.

Andy Carter Con

Warrington South

Question

I thank the Prime Minister and his team for engaging across the weekend, and for the decision to place Warrington into tier 2, rather than including it in the wider Merseyside region. One of the many questions I am asked by businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector, is: what are the criteria for moving Warrington back into tier 1 and reducing the level of restrictions locally?

Minister reply

That is a very good question. A lot of people ask about the precise criteria. We look at a number of different measures. We look at the hospital admissions and the rate of transmissions in the community. A number of things are taken into account, but one thing that was clearly and particularly influential in the decision on Merseyside was the transmission, as has just been mentioned, into the over-60s group, which is obviously very concerning. As I just said to my hon. Friend the Member for Meon Valley (Mrs Drummond), when the R comes down, that changes it.

Barbara Keeley Lab

Worsley and Eccles South

Question

Under the initial furlough scheme, staff had 80% of their salary paid if there was no work for them, but the Chancellor’s new scheme pays only two thirds of wages, which for minimum wage staff can be as little as £5.80 an hour. And only those businesses forced to close will get support, even though supply chain businesses will also be hit. If we are going to beat this virus, we need a full package of financial support in all tier 2 and tier 3 areas that pays everyone affected 80% of their wages. Can the Prime Minister commit to providing that support?

Minister reply

I am proud of this Government’s record in raising the living wage by record sums. The hon. Lady will have heard what I said earlier about continuing with our support for universal credit—continuing with the uplift in universal credit—for the whole of this financial year.

Dean Russell Con

Watford

Question

While I was volunteering just this morning at Watford General Hospital, where it happens to be Think Clean week, the wonderful specialist infection prevention and control support worker Cheryl Atkins used an ultraviolet system to show me how easily this or any virus can spread through poor hand hygiene. Does the Prime Minister agree that it is incumbent on us all to fight covid by washing our hands regularly and by following the incredibly simple yet tremendously powerful guidance of “Hands, face, space”?

Minister reply

I agree totally with my hon. Friend, and it should be Think Clean week in Watford and across the whole of the UK.

Paula Barker Lab

Liverpool Wavertree

Question

Today the Government have placed Merseyside into tier 3 lockdown. For 10 long years, my city has been under the boot of Tory austerity, and now the Prime Minister intends to shut down our economy while keeping furlough support at 67%, which has all the hallmarks of once again placing our city into a state of managed decline. Will he listen to our metro Mayor, our city Mayor and local MPs and stump up the cash for a furlough scheme based on 80% of wages, without the reliance, as he keeps saying, on universal credit? If it was the right thing to do in March, it is the right thing to do now.

Minister reply

I am grateful to Steve Rotheram and other leaders in that area for the support they are giving for the measures we are putting in place. I think that they understand the real dilemma that we face, which is that we must get the virus down but we must also keep the economy going and support jobs. That is what we are doing.

Ben Bradley Con

Hartlepool

Question

It is really frustrating that Mansfield is heading into new restrictions when our rate of transmission is 10% of that of Nottingham city—despite being further away from it than Derby, for example, which is not being similarly restricted. I understand the need to get ahead of the virus, but I argued strongly against these arbitrary-seeming boundaries. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that this will be regularly and properly reviewed, and that Mansfield will not be automatically tied to the city’s fate when it comes to removing these restrictions in the future?

Minister reply

I understand completely the frustrations of the people of Mansfield. I am afraid that further restrictions are necessary across the country in the way that we have outlined today, but of course they will be reviewed very regularly.

Mike Amesbury Lab

Warrington South

Question

The Halton part of my constituency in Merseyside has been placed in tier 3. The Cheshire West and Chester part is in tier 2. In the Cheshire West and Chester part, we have the nonsense of the 10 pm curfew, which does not follow the evidence and needs to be reviewed and changed. In the Halton part, we have people who are now required to live on 67% of the minimum wage, which is nowhere near sufficient. Look at this again, Prime Minister. Step up and look at this again.

Minister reply

I am afraid I must reject what the hon. Gentleman says in the sense that I think he is being inconsistent or trying to have it both ways. Most people, I think, in this country want to see restrictions that get the virus down, and that is what we are bringing forward and supporting. I think most people in this country also want to see support for people who are put out of business through no fault of their own, and that is what we are also providing.

Elliot Colburn Con

Carshalton and Wallington

Question

Carshalton and Wallington residents have worked hard to keep the virus rate down to one of the lowest levels in London; however, with varying degrees of guidance and restrictions across the country, sometimes the guidance can be difficult to follow and people need clarification. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that this new covid three-level alert system will make it easier for people to understand and ultimately follow the guidance?

Minister reply

Yes, indeed; that is why we have gone for the three-tier approach and anybody in any doubt whatever, whether or not in Carshalton—I thank my hon. Friend’s constituents for the effort that they have made—should get on to the gov.uk website and see what they need to do to comply.

Rachel Hopkins Lab

Luton South and South Bedfordshire

Question

Many of my constituents in Luton South work for Luton airport, its supply chain and linked businesses, such as Theobolds Coaches, which I visited last Friday. While businesses in tier 3 that are forced to close will be offered some Government support, what support will be offered to those businesses in tourism and airports that are not in tier 3 but are so distinctly affected by the addition of tier 3, and are struggling due to a lack of consumer confidence?

Minister reply

The hon. Lady makes a very important point, but for some of the businesses that she talks about—aviation, for instance—we have packages. Whether through Time to Pay or through the Birch process, we are trying to look after the aviation sector, but for all businesses that are unable to trade as normal the joint support system is there.

James Daly Con

Heywood and Middleton

Question

Pubs, restaurants and cafés in Bury, Ramsbottom and Tottington have invested heavily to create covid-secure environments. That is reflected in the fact that, on the last figures I have, in the last 14 days there were no recorded covid outbreaks in such places and there is no evidence at all of significant transmission of covid in these important community assets. Will the Prime Minister therefore join me in thanking local business owners for their efforts in creating such secure environments, and agree that we should do everything possible to ask local residents, within reason and abiding by Government guidance, to support these important hospitality venues and community assets?

Minister reply

Yes, indeed. I thank the people of Bury and I am, of course, sorry for all the privations that are being endured, not just in Bury but across the country. The best way to get the businesses that my hon. Friend talks about back on their feet is for us all, as I say, to follow the guidance, get the R down and take the country forward.

Imran Hussain Lab

Bradford East

Question

Will the Prime Minister guarantee that every area gets the support it needs, and will he reopen the discretionary grant scheme so that local authorities such as Bradford can respond to the needs of their businesses and communities to protect jobs and livelihoods?

Minister reply

We are supporting local authorities such as Bradford with £3.6 billion already given and another £1 billion to come.

Michael Fabricant

Question

Can the Prime Minister help people in Lichfield by saying that, once we have got over this winter, new drugs and vaccines will bring a change?

Minister reply

Once we get through to spring, we will be in a completely different environment due to new technologies coming on stream.

Kenny MacAskill

Question

Why won’t the United Kingdom provide furlough support until next year like Germany does?

Minister reply

The Chancellor has set out the job support scheme which goes through till next year.

Andrea Leadsom Con

South Northamptonshire

Question

Will my right hon. Friend agree to publish precise details of what the rules are and why each one is necessary?

Minister reply

Yes, indeed.

Zarah Sultana Lab

Coventry South

Question

Why won’t the Prime Minister raise statutory sick pay to the level of the real living wage and extend it to cover all workers?

Minister reply

In addition to the £500 test and trace support payment scheme, there is also the support of universal credit.

Laura Trott Con

Sevenoaks

Question

Will the Prime Minister confirm that the decision to continue elective operations will continue to be locally led?

Minister reply

Yes, and it is exactly in order to prevent a further backlog that we need to prevent an uncontained outbreak of coronavirus now.

Marie Rimmer Lab

St Helens South and Whiston

Question

Will the Prime Minister commit to sharing with the public the evidence on why specific types of businesses have been forced to close?

Minister reply

I repeat the undertaking that I just gave.

Alicia Kearns Con

Rutland and Stamford

Question

Will pregnant women in their third trimester be advised to shield, given their higher vulnerability?

Minister reply

Pregnant women who are in any doubt should consult the gov.uk website for advice.

Maria Eagle Lab

Liverpool Garston

Question

Will the Prime Minister undertake to look again at the business support scheme with his Chancellor?

Minister reply

In addition to billions invested, cash grants of up to £3,000 are available for businesses forced to close as a result of local lockdowns.

Steve Brine Con

Winchester

Question

What is the Prime Minister’s opinion on north-south split in virus rates and what information has he been given by experts?

Minister reply

The disease is rising across the country. We tackle it in a local way.

Kevin Brennan Lab

Cardiff West

Question

Does the Prime Minister now acknowledge that outsourcing the test and trace system was an error?

Minister reply

No—no more than getting a vaccine or test device from the private sector is an error.

Jason McCartney Con

Colne Valley

Question

Can smaller, more localised geographical areas move out of the tiers as people make local sacrifices?

Minister reply

As soon as we can take areas out of measures, of course we will do so.

Bill Esterson Lab

Sefton Central

Question

What is the scientific evidence for the restrictions and what is the exit strategy?

Minister reply

The R should get below 1.

Andrew Murrison Con

South West Wiltshire

Question

Will the Prime Minister redouble his efforts to ensure that those who are vulnerable this winter get the flu vaccine?

Minister reply

We have 30 million flu vaccines available.

Emma Hardy Lab

Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice

Question

Today we had a Yorkshire briefing with 15 minutes’ notice that failed to invite all Yorkshire MPs, and neither have all Yorkshire council leaders been contacted. We are left waiting for the Prime Minister’s website update to find out which tier we are in. This shambles is creating confusion and fear, and we need clarity, so will decisions about Hull and East Riding be made together as part of Yorkshire, made separately, or made as part of Yorkshire and the Humber? How much notice of the changes will we get?

Minister reply

I can tell the hon. Lady that the Government at all levels have been in constant contact with authorities in Yorkshire for the past few days, and I am very grateful for their co-operation.

Alun Cairns

Question

I recognise the Prime Minister’s focus in his statement on introducing a much more simplified restriction regime that offers greater clarity and strikes a balance between the risk of spreading the virus and economic activity. Can he tell us what discussions have taken place with the devolved Administrations on taking a uniform approach across the United Kingdom, and is he able to update us on whether the Leader of the Opposition has supported such activity in engaging with the Welsh Government to encourage them to follow suit, because this will have a major effect on Treasury support and the simplicity that businesses in my constituency can draw on?

Minister reply

It is certainly the case that there is a wide measure of co-operation across all the devolved Administrations with the Government, and it is also the case that, to the best of my knowledge, the Leader of the Opposition has at least sometimes backed the restrictions. I hope very much that we will continue to work in that collaborative way.

Ruth Edwards

Question

The measures that my right hon. Friend has announced today are sadly necessary, given the sharp rise in cases, but hospitality businesses in Rushcliffe, such as the fantastic community-owned Air Hostess pub in Tollerton, which I visited last week, are understandably worried about the impact that stopping households mixing will have on their business just as they have got back on their feet. Can my right hon. Friend confirm how often the tier 2 measures will be reviewed, and can he assure me that they will be kept in place in Rushcliffe only until infection levels have decreased in the borough?

Minister reply

I understand my hon. Friend’s anxieties and the anxieties of the people of Rushcliffe, and we will keep all restrictions under constant review in order to remove them as soon as we possibly can.

David Linden

Question

It is quite clear, as we move into further restrictions and with the virus increasing, that we are not going to go back to live music anytime soon. My Belvidere constituent, Craig Johnston, came to see me at my surgery on Friday, and he is concerned by the lack of support for people in the live music industry. What is the Prime Minister going to do for Craig?

Minister reply

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise that issue, and that is why we put £1.57 billion into supporting the arts. That funding also covers freelancers and people who are involved in the live music industry, but the best thing for them is to get those types of events back up and running as fast as possible.

James Sunderland

Question

I would like to tackle a misnomer, if I may. Is it not because this Conservative Government respect personal freedoms that these difficult but pragmatic measures are necessary in the short term to keep people safe?

Minister reply

It is indeed, because people should have the freedom from fear, the freedom from seeing their jobs destroyed in the long term and the freedom to go about their lives in the normal way. The only way to restore those freedoms to this country is for us all to follow the guidance, get through this thing in the way that we are doing and get back to normal as fast as possible.

Chi Onwurah Lab

Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Question

Test, track and isolate must be made to work; without it, nothing can work. Can the Prime Minister tell me where transmission is occurring in Newcastle now, rather than guessing based on US data? If he cannot, after six months and hundreds of millions of pounds spent on private contractors to track transmission, will he accept that fundamentally what is not working in this pandemic is the Prime Minister, and the businesses and people of Newcastle are paying the price?

Minister reply

It is thanks to the great expansion of NHS Test and Trace that we know where the virus is being transmitted in this country and where the incidence is rising, and contrary to what the hon. Lady says, we know it with increasing and granular detail. That enables us to take the local measures that we are taking, and I take it from what she said that she supports those measures in Newcastle and the north-east.

Aaron Bell

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we need a flexible local approach to tackle outbreaks? Does he also agree that, when looking at which tier an area moves into, the distinct nature of outbreaks at universities should be taken into account for authorities containing a university, such as Newcastle-under-Lyme, rather than relying on a single, catch-all case rate?

Minister reply

Indeed, but as I said earlier, I am reluctant to make a hard-and-fast distinction between students and other members of the population. They are heir to the same afflictions as the rest of us. By and large, students are doing a great job in following the guidance, and we encourage all of them to do that.

Pat McFadden Lab

Wolverhampton South East

Question

Whatever new restrictions are introduced in each of the three tiers that the Prime Minister has announced, it is essential that we do everything we can to keep children at school and keep children learning. With that in mind, will he ensure that, where a positive case is identified in a school, the smallest possible number of children are sent home, rather than a whole year group, as is sometimes the case at present? Will he do that to ensure that children’s long-term opportunities are not damaged, that inequality does not rise further and that children’s education is not hurt even more by the necessary fight against this virus?

Minister reply

The right hon. Gentleman raises an exceptionally important point. A great deal of work is being done on the right size of the bubble, as it were, and how many infections should be decisive in taking action in schools. I am very happy to say that—at the moment, at least—we have almost 90% of kids in school and 99.9% of schools open. That is a great achievement by teachers, parents and pupils alike.

Theresa Villiers

Question

The furlough and self-employment schemes have provided crucial help to many millions of people, but unfortunately, around 3 million fell outside the scope of those schemes. May I appeal for help for those groups, such as the newly employed, the newly self-employed, directors of limited companies and freelancers on short-term contracts? Some of them are suffering real hardship.

Minister reply

Indeed, and I have mentioned the £13.5 billion that we have already given to the self-employed. My right hon. Friend understands the difficulties of the cut-off date, which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has illustrated. It is to help people across the country that we have increased universal credit, for instance, which will continue for this whole financial year.

Tony Lloyd

Question

The Prime Minister knows that the control mechanisms introduced in Greater Manchester can work only if we have an efficient test, track and trace system. He told the House earlier that he aims by the end of this month to have half a million tests completed daily. Can he make it clear that track and trace works only if those tests deliver results very quickly? When will we get to the point when those half a million tests will be reported back in a reasonable time and in most cases within a day?

Minister reply

We are turning around tests as fast as we possibly can and laying on new labs and new test sites, and I am very confident that we will get up to half a million tests a day by the end of the month. I am not going to make a commitment now about turnaround times, but the hon. Gentleman’s point is well made.

Andrew Griffith Con

Arundel and South Downs

Question

During a pandemic, life and love continue. I know that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has strained every sinew to protect people’s lives and liberty, but will he undertake to review, over time, the guidelines that say that a venue that could seat 200 as a restaurant could seat only 15 if it happens to be for a marriage ceremony?

Minister reply

My hon. Friend, like many Members across the House, draws attention to what appears to be an anomaly in the regulations and in the guidelines. There are many such issues that we are doing our best to iron out, but when you are dealing with a pandemic such as this and when your only tool of influencing human behaviour is guidance, I am afraid that such anomalies inevitably arise. We will do whatever we can to iron out any inconsistencies there may be.

Judith Cummins Lab

Bradford South

Question

In areas such as Bradford, which have had local restrictions since July, people living in care homes have gone months without face-to-face contact with loved ones. For people with dementia, a lack of social contact can cause a marked decline. Will the Prime Minister commit to doing everything he can not only to keep care home residents safe, but to work to reintroduce visits, for example, by testing loved ones on a regular basis? Can he confirm whether there will be changes to the shielding guidance in tier 2 or tier 3 areas?

Minister reply

On the guidance for tier 2 and tier 3 areas, the best thing residents of those areas can do is get on the website and check exactly what is needed. But the hon. Member makes a very important point about care homes. I think the whole House feels for those who are in care homes, perhaps nearing the end of their lives and worried that they may not see their loved ones. It is a truly terrible situation. No one would want to do that lightly. We try to make exceptions for very difficult circumstances, but we must reduce the incidence in care homes, or we must keep it as low as we have got it. We saw what happened earlier this year and we really do not want to see a repeat of that.

Julian Smith Con

Skipton and Ripon

Question

There has been really positive engagement between No. 10, the Government and local authorities in the north of England over this weekend. I support calls for local authorities to do more on track and trace and on the issue of care home visitor access. Will the Prime Minister keep encouraging his teams to look at creative solutions between local authorities and Government, and how we allow loved ones to visit their sick and elderly relatives?

Minister reply

Yes, indeed. Creative solutions are in order on that important matter, and I thank my right hon. Friend for that. We really have to go the extra mile in such difficult cases and see what maximum protection we can offer loved ones who need to visit their elderly relatives in very difficult circumstances.

Julie Elliott Lab

Sunderland Central

Question

Sunderland, along with a lot of the north-east, went into local measures a few weeks ago and a number of asks were made of Government: some £14 million for test and trace; and some £24 million for business support. Almost four weeks later, there has been no response one way or the other. Could the Prime Minister commit to look into what the logjam is and get a response quickly to our local authorities because they need to know what is happening?

Minister reply

Absolutely I will. The hon. Member will have heard what I said earlier about the support for local authorities, but I will make sure we look particularly into what is happening in Sunderland and get her an answer.

Imran Ahmad Khan Con

Rushcliffe

Question

As Conservatives, we often speak of levelling up. However, now is the time to level with the British people. There is no silver bullet. All measures to stop the spread of covid have painful effects on our economy, social lives and mental wellbeing. Voices on the Opposition Benches believe that British people are incapable of understanding complex issues such as Brexit. The Conservative party is the champion of individuals’ rights to make autonomous decisions without state interference. Will the Prime Minister double down on our party’s historic commitment to invest greater trust in the individual to decide what is best for themselves?

Minister reply

Indeed, and I hope that the individual will also recognise that the risk that we carry—he or she carries—is not just to ourselves, but to the whole of the community because, in the end, we are all potential vectors of this disease and we may bring it inadvertently to someone who is more vulnerable than ourselves. That is why we are bringing in these measures, why we have had the package of measures that we have had throughout this pandemic, and why we now need to intensify them in some local areas now.

Tracy Brabin Lab

Batley and Spen

Question

Just to follow up on the question from my fellow Kirklees MP, the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Jason McCartney), can the Prime Minister clarify: if the numbers are right and they are going in the right direction, it is possible for local authorities, or areas within local authorities, to come out of these restrictions—if numbers allow and it is safe—even if the wider region cannot?

Minister reply

Of course we keep all this under review but, as I have said several times throughout the afternoon, you have to keep your geographical area fairly coherent. I know that that causes a great deal of frustration for hon. Members and I have been hearing itt for weeks and months, but that is the way that we have to do it.

Richard Fuller Con

North Bedfordshire

Question

I was down as No. 116 on the list today, so may I thank the Prime Minister for answering so many questions in the Chamber today? Regulatory impact assessments are pesky little things, but they are absolutely vital in assessing the impact of regulation on the community and particularly on small businesses. Can my right hon. Friend commit to ask his Cabinet colleagues to prepare regulatory impact assessments for the three-tier approach, to have them scored by the Regulatory Policy Committee and laid before the House of Commons within the next 30 days?

Minister reply

I share my hon. Friend’s general hostility to unnecessary regulation of any kind and, believe me, it hurts to do a lot of the things that we have had to do over the last few months, but I see no reason at all why, without being too bureaucratic about it, we should not conduct an assessment of the implications of these measures as well.

Richard Thomson SNP

Kilmarnock and Loudoun

Question

Last week, prompted by data and scientific advice, the Scottish Government acted to introduce new restrictions to halt the spread of the virus. The measures, which were criticised at the time by Scottish Conservative politicians, have been largely followed by the Prime Minister this afternoon. It is vital that businesses and individuals get the financial support that they need through this crisis. In that case, why will the Prime Minister not match the public health powers that the devolved Governments already have with the financial powers which would allow them to do whatever it takes, whenever it is necessary, to support businesses and individuals, instead of always having to hope that eventually his Government will catch up?

Minister reply

As the hon. Gentleman knows, it is one of the features of this crisis that the UK Treasury has been able to step up to the plate and support people throughout the United Kingdom. That is going to be our approach throughout and I am grateful also for the close harmony in our approach to which he alluded earlier.

William Wragg Con

Warrington North

Question

I fear that talk of closing hospitality venues such as pubs, restaurants and cafés misses the point, given the very limited transmission of covid within them. For example, this has averaged at just 2.4% in Stockport over the last four months. Is not the danger in closing them that people will meet in each other’s homes, where transmission is much higher, rather than in these covid-secure venues?

Minister reply

As my hon. Friend knows, in level 2 areas and indeed, a fortiori, in level 3 areas, there are restrictions on household contact that are designed to bring down that transmission. You should not meet other households indoors in either a domestic or a hospitality setting.

Munira Wilson Lib Dem

Twickenham

Question

The latest technical glitch in the Prime Minister’s so-called world-beating test and trace system, which has been dubbed a “data enrichment” process, has meant that many positive cases among students have automatically been attributed to their home address, instead of to their university address. That has affected about a quarter of new cases in Richmond upon Thames in my constituency, and it has been replicated in Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Hertfordshire, Essex and elsewhere. How can quick and effective local tracing take place if cases are being reported to the wrong place, and how might that affect decisions about which tier areas are placed into?

Minister reply

The hon. Member makes an important point but, with respect to her, we are aware of that phenomenon—data showing where students, or anybody, are registered with their GP, rather than where the transmission is taking place—so we obviously aim off for that.

Jacob Young Con

Richmond Park

Question

The Health Secretary has confirmed that parts of Teesside, including my constituency, will also enter tier 2 restrictions from Wednesday. I desperately wish that these restrictions were not necessary, as they will understandably place a great strain on the mental health of my constituents, who will now be limited in their interactions with friends, families and partners. Can my right hon. Friend assure me that the people of Redcar and Cleveland, who put their trust in the Conservative party for the first time in December, are at the forefront of his mind, and that we will lift those restrictions at the earliest opportunity?

Minister reply

I share my hon. Friend’s views entirely and I desperately wish that these measures were not necessary. The better and more united way we can enforce them, the faster we will be able to lift them, and in Redcar, and across the country, we will be able to get on with our agenda of uniting and levelling up. By the way, we have not forgotten about that—we are continuing to do it, irrespective of this crisis, as I think the people of Redcar would expect.

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