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Covid-19
22 September 2020
Lead MP
Boris Johnson
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
NHSEconomyEmploymentCommunity Security
Other Contributors: 72
At a Glance
Boris Johnson raised concerns about covid-19 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will make a statement on our response to the rising number of coronavirus cases. The Prime Minister emphasises that we must strike a balance between saving lives by protecting the NHS and minimising wider economic impacts. He acknowledges the success earlier this year in averting a worse catastrophe but warns about the real prospect of a second wave, with case numbers quadrupling from 1,000 to 3,929 daily cases in a month. The doubling rate for new cases could be between seven and 20 days, leading potentially to tens of thousands of infections by October if we do not act now.
The Prime Minister stresses that while more testing is being done, the proportion of positive results is rising, and fewer than 8% of people have antibodies. The virus is spreading to older age groups as seen in other countries like France and Spain, leading to increased hospital admissions and deaths. Daily hospital admissions in England have doubled over two weeks.
The UK’s covid alert level has been raised from 3 to 4—the second most serious stage—meaning transmission is high or rising exponentially. The Prime Minister announces new restrictions in England: office workers should work from home if possible, pubs, bars and restaurants must operate a table service only and close at 10 pm, face coverings will become legal requirements in retail and hospitality sectors, the rule of six will be tightened to include weddings (maximum of 15 people) and indoor team sports, and businesses will face fines for non-compliance.
The Prime Minister warns that if these measures do not succeed in bringing the R number below one, stricter lockdowns may become necessary. He also mentions extra funding for enforcement by police and military support where needed. The Prime Minister assures that schools, universities, and places of worship remain open while shops can serve customers as usual.
The statement concludes with a call to action for everyone to follow the basics: hand washing, face covering, social distancing, and adhering to rules.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Question
Will the Prime Minister ensure that the measures announced today will effectively suppress the virus, especially considering local lockdowns elsewhere have not succeeded? What emergency financial support will be provided to businesses affected by these restrictions?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges that local lockdowns elsewhere may not have been fully effective. However, he stresses the need for decisive action and commits to providing further details on financial support through regular updates from his team.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Question
The shadow expresses concern about the inconsistency in Government messaging regarding working from home, local lockdowns that have not effectively suppressed infections elsewhere, and the lack of emergency financial support for businesses and families. He also questions the Prime Minister's strategy and urges cross-party collaboration.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges the need to balance economic activity with public health measures, highlighting the current testing capacity in the UK which is higher than any other country in Europe. He emphasises that local lockdowns have been effective and reiterates the government’s commitment to supporting businesses through financial assistance amounting to £160 billion.
Question
The MP asks how the Prime Minister intends to convince grandparents, worried parents, workers, business owners, and MPs that his proposed measures are necessary. She also questions the timeframe of six months for these restrictions.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister confirms plans to make time early next week for a full debate in Parliament on the measures announced.
Question
The MP raises concerns about job losses and the end of the furlough scheme, proposing an extension based on analysis showing potential savings of 61,000 jobs in Scotland alone. He also criticises previous inconsistent Government messaging.
Minister reply
The Prime Minister agrees that decisive action is needed but reiterates the importance of allowing businesses to continue and create new jobs while continuing support through existing programmes such as furlough. He notes that support amounts to £5 billion in Scotland alone from Barnett consequentials.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming and Ash
Question
I support the measures announced today. The Prime Minister will have decided them with a heavy heart, but all the evidence from South Korea, Singapore and other countries is that early, decisive action now is the best way to avoid a second full lockdown later. I want to ask him about testing. We have tripled capacity since May and will double it again by the end of October, so there has been a transformation, but we are not there yet. At a school in my constituency a child has tested positive, but it only gets a quota of 10 tests every three weeks, and it is worried that people may be passing on the virus asymptomatically whom it is not able to identify. How can he reassure that school and others up and down the country that are trying so hard to do the right thing?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right that we have massively increased testing across the country. We are now prioritising teachers, as he knows. He raises a very important point about school pupils, and an interesting fact is that the rates of infection and transmission among school pupils are much lower than in the rest of the population. But I am not going to hide it from him that the future I see for our country and the way to defeat this virus is massively to expand testing, not just for teachers and not just in schools but throughout the country.
Edward Davey
Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Question
There was one major omission from the Prime Minister’s statement: an apology. Will he now apologise for his Government’s gross incompetence over testing, tracing and clear communications, which has led to these latest restrictions on people’s daily lives? As families and businesses look forward, especially to Christmas, how will the Government support the millions of people who are on the brink of losing their jobs, losing their businesses and losing their livelihoods? What is the new plan for them?
Minister reply
The plan is that we should continue to keep the economy moving in the way that I have described and the Government have set out, which I believe is, quite rightly, supported by the Opposition, while suppressing the R and getting the virus down. That is our policy.
Question
One of the lessons of the lockdown measures in the spring was that they worked, but almost everyone ended up wishing that they had been introduced a week or two earlier, so the Prime Minister is right to act in anticipation rather than in reaction. Will he take the public into his confidence and tell them whether the six-month period that he mentioned is irrespective of the experience of infections and hospitalisation over the weeks and months ahead? What will be the criteria for lifting these restrictions and others such as the rule of six?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend asks a really important question. The answer is, of course, that we must look at what the data tell us. There are several important data. The R is perhaps the crucial one, but we also look at rates of admissions to hospitals and new infections.
Question
The Prime Minister is right that testing is a vital part of the Government’s response to the coronavirus. Will he join me in commending companies like Randox and Fortress Diagnostics in Northern Ireland, which have played a vital role at national level in delivering the Government’s testing programme? Randox has committed 99% of its covid testing capacity to that programme, and on 19 September it successfully reported almost 10,000 samples beyond its committed daily rate. Will the Prime Minister consider providing access to testing through local community pharmacies to expand the capacity and public accessibility to testing at this time?
Minister reply
I do indeed congratulate Randox and all the other businesses involved. We are massively expanding testing the whole time. It is very important for the House to understand that testing alone cannot fix this problem. The problem we have in the spread of this virus is that, alas, a minority of people have not been following the guidance in the way they might have done.
Question
I thank the Prime Minister for all his hard work during these difficult, challenging times to keep us all safe. He will be aware that I have put forward two private Member’s Bills to improve mental health care provision for all, supported by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This morning, I spoke to Professor Allan Young from King’s College London, who raised with me real concerns about the reduction in mental health care provision for those with severe mental health issues during covid-19. Will the Prime Minister please look urgently into the matter and the representations of experts such as Professor Young, which I will forward to his office?
Minister reply
I look forward to receiving those representations—I will study them carefully. As the House has heard before, the Government are spending £12 billion more on mental health provision. Also, throughout the pandemic, we have been putting extra cash into mental health charities.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
Diolch, Llefarydd. At the start of the pandemic, there were concerns that visitors were gathering in crowds at beauty spots like yr Wyddfa—Snowdon. This happened again last weekend. Local lockdowns in Wales now require people to remain within their local authority area, except for essential reasons, but no such requirements exist in England. In those unfortunate situations where people face local lockdowns, will the Prime Minister give clear guidance against out-of-area travel for leisure purposes?
Minister reply
For local lockdowns, the guidance is given by the local authorities, following the decision in Covid-O about exactly what restrictions are to be put in place. Clearly the restriction the right hon. Lady suggests is part of the mix.
Question
I thank the Prime Minister for his statement and for being here in person to answer our questions. Surely the reality is that national lockdown has one shot and any repeat of that, with the inevitable unlock that follows, reintroduces an increased element of opportunity for the virus and risk for us, as we are seeing now. Does the Prime Minister agree that all these restrictions on our constituents’ lives require their ongoing consent, and that it is incumbent on the Government, the scientists who advise him and Parliament to stress-test these decisions and, crucially, the evidence that lies behind them?
Minister reply
I do agree with that. It would be greatly to the advantage of the debate and the country for these questions to be discussed in the House in the way that I have outlined and was proposed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Dame Cheryl Gillan).
Question
The public have shown a vast capacity for putting others first during the pandemic, and now they are being asked to do more. In return, the Government need to do more for them. Public consent is dependent on people not being forced into financial ruin. Will the Prime Minister ensure that the most affected sectors, such as hospitality and the arts, continue to get the financial support they need? In particular, will he meet me and other hon. Members to find solutions for more than 3 million self-employed people who have not been covered by the existing financial schemes?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady raises an important point. We have extended loans and grants to every conceivable sector of the economy, including £1.57 billion to the arts sector alone, and we will of course do more.
Question
The country is now full of amateur infection control experts, amateur epidemiologists and the odd Captain Hindsight. I do not intend to be one of those, but I must express to the Prime Minister the concern of constituents in my area where the seven-day rolling average is now well below 20 and falling, where people have followed the rules but have seen those at protests and street parties not having action taken against them. We will now suffer as a result of these further measures, support them though I do. In particular, hospitality will suffer. May I urge him to look again at the Government’s plans to halve the small brewers’ rate relief, which will damage small brewers, particularly craft brewers? Can we look again at that as this is not the time to be introducing such changes?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend speaks eloquently for his constituents and for those who feel let down by the minority who are not obeying the rules. That is why we are outlining this programme of tough enforcement today.
Question
The Prime Minister will have support for taking the necessary measures to contain and suppress the virus, but he is receiving a very strong message from both sides of the House today that he does need to revisit the economic support measures, particularly in the light of changed circumstances and bearing in mind the need to look at other creative and innovative solutions. Will he therefore accept that, when the Chancellor made his statement back at the beginning of July, a certain set of planning assumptions were made that now no longer apply with the virus, so it is incumbent on the Government to change course and to change what they are doing to support people as well?
Minister reply
I acknowledge the point that the hon. Gentleman has made, and it is certainly our intention, as we go forward, to do everything we can to protect lives and livelihoods and to put our arms around everyone in this country.
Don Valley
Question
Don Valley appreciates the work being done in response to rising cases of covid-19, but blanket restrictions are affecting all people, regardless of actual risk. Will the Government ask individuals to carry out a personal risk assessment?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges the dilemma and looks ahead to identifying whether one is infectious through testing to allow more freedom.
Gerald Jones
Lab
Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare
Question
With local lockdowns in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, holiday travel is restricted. What can the Government do to support constituents affected by these restrictions?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister invites Gerald Jones to write with details of his constituents' concerns for further investigation.
Question
Darent Valley Hospital and local GP surgeries were under pressure during the outbreak. Will the Government consider extending pharmacies' ability to administer health treatments?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges pharmacies' frontline role in healthcare and commits to supporting them.
Question
With furlough ending soon, will the Prime Minister extend it as other countries are doing to avoid economic devastation?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister highlights that the UK's furlough scheme is more generous than those in Germany and France and commits to helping people remain employed throughout the crisis.
Mel Stride
Con
Central Devon
Question
Lockdowns harm personal wellbeing and economic health. Will the Government balance listening to epidemiologists with economists, businesses, and Treasury advice?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister emphasises balancing immediate action with long-term economic impact.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
Why is a new test centre in Hull being run by private firms without accountability to local bodies? How does this approach help tackling the pandemic?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister promises to study Diana's concerns about the testing unit at Hull University and ensure NHS Test and Trace provides full explanations.
Richard Fuller
Con
North Bedfordshire
Question
Concerns exist that focus on covid will push other illnesses' treatment further back in queues. Will the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care prioritise communicating progress on surgeries?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister commits to ensuring NHS is not overwhelmed with covid cases and stresses the importance of driving down R to avoid this.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Bristol South
Question
Why abolish Public Health England in the middle of the pandemic? If benefits cannot be explained, will he commit to reversing the decision until an inquiry?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister explains that merging the Joint Biosecurity Centre with PHE is part of a better service for the country and addresses concerns about delays.
Saqib Bhatti
Con
Meriden and Solihull East
Question
Concerns exist about a second national lockdown affecting schools and businesses. Will individual responsibility be prioritised to avoid it?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister agrees that avoiding a full lockdown is crucial and calls for collective responsibility in fighting the virus.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Question
Why has there been a fast change of plan regarding alcohol sales and service after 10 o'clock at night, despite earlier legislation allowing such activities?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister explains that later evening curfews help drive down the R rate without excessive economic damage.
Question
What is being done to deliver one of the largest flu vaccination programmes, promised for this autumn?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister confirms that 30 million people will be eligible for a flu jab and advises Members to get vaccinated.
Question
How can citizens follow rules when the Government itself is willing to break international law?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister emphasises the objective of helping citizens abide by laws and reducing virus spread.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Question
Children are very unlikely to be harmed by this virus, and they are also less likely to spread it. In my role as a children’s doctor and as a member of the Select Committee on Education, however, I have seen examples of children being harmed by not being in school. Will my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reassure the House that he will do everything in his power to keep schools open?
Minister reply
Yes. I thank my hon. Friend for what she does, and I thank the tens of millions of parents, teachers and pupils up and down the country who rose to the occasion at the beginning of the month and went back to school in overwhelming numbers. They are still at school in spite of the difficulties that they are currently facing. She is so right; it is vital for children and young people to be in school, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that that remains the case.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Question
The Prime Minister will no doubt be aware of the alarming rate at which coronavirus cases are rising among black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, particularly among the Asian population, with some 34% of coronavirus patients in intensive care right now being from ethnic minorities. Can he tell the House how he thinks shutting pubs an hour earlier will address this worrying trend and what action the Government have taken to tackle the disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities since PHE published its report in June?
Minister reply
What we have done, as the hon. Lady possibly knows already, is to target testing and enhance protection for those in frontline groups, many of whom come from black and minority ethnic groups. What we are also doing, to stop the spread of infection in some communities, is working much harder with local government and local communities to get the messaging into those communities about the risks of transmission and the basic rules about hands, face, space.
Question
Sport and physical activity contributes more than £16 billion to the UK economy. It directly employs more than 600,000 people and indirectly employs many more. It has an ecosystem that reaches beyond the pitch, field, court or pool, and its social value, which includes physical and mental wellbeing, is estimated at more than £72 billion. Right now, however, both codes of rugby, football, cricket, netball, hockey, tennis and swimming, to name but a few, are in a perilous situation because spectators cannot return and venues cannot host income-raising events such as conferences. Sport, and all that it directly and indirectly involves, cannot continue to face such losses. Given today’s announcement that pauses the return of spectators, will the Prime Minister elaborate on his comments about a financial support package to ensure that sport is not left decimated after the pandemic?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to draw attention to the huge importance of sport to our national economy and our wellbeing. That is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is now working flat out with the Premier League and others to identify ways in which we can keep these clubs going and support sport at all levels throughout the pandemic.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Question
Mr Speaker, you will be aware of the recent imposition of further restrictions in the north-east of England. First, I thank the Prime Minister for listening to and acting on the concerns, both individual and collective, from the northern group of Labour MPs about informal childcare arrangements in my constituency and others. However, before he feels my warm embrace, I ask him to provide assurances to businesses in my constituency in relation to the latest announcement of restrictions on businesses. Will he outline what sector-specific support the Government will offer to those worst affected by covid, such as the coach sector, which is on the brink of collapse because of Government inaction, in the main, and the failure to listen to the “Honk for Hope” campaign?
Minister reply
We will do whatever we can to support the coach sector and all other sectors across the country. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we have put in place a massive programme of loans, grants and support of all kinds.
Question
I am thankful for my right hon. Friend’s commitments on parliamentary scrutiny. He will know that many Members of the House and members of the public are concerned about the use of delegated powers, and I am sure that he remembers the sifting Committee from the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Will he please consider whether some innovative thinking can be applied to ensure that the authority of this House is brought to bear on these measures in advance, so that the public can have confidence that their representatives are authorising the use of law to constrain their freedom?
Minister reply
Yes; under the current procedures, it is up to the House to confirm that the Executive do have the power to continue measures under the Coronavirus Act, and that will continue to be the case. We are additionally offering—insisting—that there should be a proper debate of these issues in Parliament.
Stephen Timms
Lab
East Ham
Question
Children were delighted to return to their primary schools earlier this month, but—not surprisingly, after six months of isolation—coughs and colds have spread rapidly among them since. We have been reminded that each primary school has just 10 covid tests. When will primary schools have the wherewithal to test children and staff with symptoms to avoid spreading the virus at school and unnecessary school closures?
Minister reply
The right hon. Gentleman is spot on about what has been happening in schools. Sadly, in many cases we have seen a rise in demand for tests because people are, reasonably, unable to distinguish between the symptoms of covid and a seasonal cough or cold. We are trying to address the situation as fast as possible.
Question
I thank the Prime Minister for his statement and for his steadfast service to our country during this very difficult time. He understands the long-term harm that a second lockdown would cause to people across the country—to their health, their lives and their livelihoods—as they try their best to get back on their feet. Will he consider targeting protective measures at those who are most at risk, rather than deploying the blunt instrument that is lockdown, which causes so much suffering and offers no hope of a cure?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is right. We are doing everything we can to protect people, particularly those in care homes, who are so vulnerable, as we saw during the early stages of the pandemic.
Yvette Cooper
Lab
Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley
Question
Some of my constituents have been waiting for four days, five days or even longer to get their test results back. In July, the Government rightly promised that 80% of in-person tests would receive their results within 24 hours of booking. That figure is now down to below 20%. That is dangerous: it means that people are not in the tracing system and their contacts are not being traced; it makes it easier for the virus to spread; and it makes it more likely that we will face even tougher restrictions, which the Prime Minister has described, across the whole country. Given that the Government made so many mistakes on testing in the first wave, we cannot afford for him to get this wrong again now. When will that 80% target now be met?
Minister reply
Despite the massive increase in testing that we have seen, with a 10% increase in capacity just in the past 10 days or so, we are seeing 64% of people getting their results in 24 hours. I do want to get that up as fast as possible to 80%. I can tell the right hon. Lady that we will double our testing capacity by the end of October, to 500,000 tests a day.
Bob Blackman
Con
Harrow East
Question
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and clear statement of purpose to conquer this terrible virus. One key concern locally has been the failure to comply with the regulations on the wearing of a face covering in shops and on public transport. Clearly, with these new restrictions coming into place, one key issue will be ensuring that people comply with the requirements. Equally, people do not want to get to a position where they are forced to wear a face covering in the open air as they are just going about their normal business. Will he state for the House what he is going to do to make sure that the message gets across to people that failing to comply with these rules is selfish and potentially places others at risk?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is spot on, which is why we are increasing the fines from £100 to £200. You are protecting yourself and protecting other people, so you wear a face covering where you should.
Richard Burgon
Lab
Leeds East
Question
Shamefully, the UK has had one of the highest coronavirus death rates in the world. If we had had Germany’s deaths per million rate, we would have had more than 30,000 fewer coronavirus deaths. If we had had the much lower death rates of South Korea and New Zealand, we would have had more than 40,000 fewer deaths. So will the Prime Minister take responsibility for our unacceptably high death rate? To avoid a repeat this winter, will he now pursue the zero covid strategy that the Independent SAGE is calling for, and that countries such as South Korea and New Zealand are successfully implementing?
Minister reply
What we are pursuing, with the support of the Opposition, is a policy of driving this virus down, while allowing education and our economy to continue. I hope the hon. Gentleman will lend his support to that effort as well.
Question
Will the Prime Minister commit to a vote in this House prior to any further steps towards a full second national lockdown?
Minister reply
We are continuing to expand testing and tracing, and it is by driving down the virus that we will be able to take the country forward. The best thing we can do is fight the virus and keep the economy moving.
Question
Will he agree to an invitation to speak to business leaders, trade union leaders and Opposition parties to put together a financial support scheme for employees relying on furlough and small business owners?
Minister reply
We will ensure that we maintain a creative approach in helping businesses. The best thing we can do is fight the virus and keep the economy moving.
Question
What message of hope can be given to teenagers, churchgoers, and businesses that are being asked to follow new restrictions?
Minister reply
Churchgoers will continue to have freedom of worship. The best hope is that we get the virus under control, take the country forward and keep the economy moving.
Question
Does he think Germany and Italy's lower covid rates are due to their locally run test and trace services?
Minister reply
The continual attacks on local test and trace are undermining. The way forward is for everyone to follow the guidelines strictly.
Question
Does he agree that we can reach our target of half a million tests a day by the end of October?
Minister reply
I fervently agree with his characterisation of the achievements of NHS Test and Trace. His optimism could reasonably be echoed by those on the Opposition Benches.
Question
What advice do the Government intend to give universities on keeping students, staff, and the wider community safe?
Minister reply
The most important thing is for everyone to follow guidelines. Students should not go home if there are outbreaks in universities.
Question
Will he consider freeing areas with lower rates from restrictions earlier, if progress is made?
Minister reply
We hope that those areas that are complying will be able to see the opportunities my hon. Friend describes.
Question
Is it not time to end the scandal of outsourcing and bring these contracts into public hands for a genuine NHS test and trace?
Minister reply
I thank each and every individual in local authorities doing their part. We are putting another £300 million into supporting our local authorities deliver test and trace.
Question
What guarantee can the Prime Minister give that the UK Government will continue to support Scottish employers and workers when the furlough scheme ends?
Minister reply
We are providing for every person in Scotland an extra £1,200 to help fight coronavirus. The people of Scotland can count on this Government throughout the crisis.
Question
Will scheduled surgeries such as hip replacements and cancer surgeries continue with high standards of protection?
Minister reply
The whole objective is to protect the NHS so that scheduled surgery can continue.
Question
Does he agree that schools should be prioritised for testing to ensure staff and students are back in class as soon as possible?
Minister reply
We are sending out new test kits the whole time. Every school can now access the tests they need.
Question
What support is the Prime Minister able to announce today for hard-hit councils with a £23 million funding gap?
Minister reply
We have put about £3.7 billion into supporting local government, and I will look at the £23 million funding gap that she raises.
Stephen Crabb
Con
Beckenham
Question
Working from home has been beneficial for some but detrimental to others in cramped conditions. Will the Prime Minister assure those individuals that their mental, physical and social wellbeing is considered in his guidance?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges the situation faced by people who are working from home in difficult circumstances. He emphasises that while workers should go into work if necessary for their job or wellbeing, they should continue to work from home where possible.
Marion Fellows
Lab
West Bromwich East
Question
Will the Prime Minister commit to extending the furlough scheme and making permanent the £20 uplift in universal credit for those out of work?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges the increase in Universal Credit and its benefit to families. He also mentions that support will continue but stresses the importance of getting back to normal life through economic activity and job creation.
Jason McCartney
Con
Colne Valley
Question
Will the Chancellor provide a financial package for hospitality businesses affected by new restrictions?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister acknowledges that sectors such as weddings, marquee companies and events will be impacted. He indicates that support has been provided but further measures may need to be considered.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Question
Why is testing provision for Stockport constituents inadequate with some having to travel over 240 miles for a test, when other countries provide comprehensive testing?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister corrects the figures presented by the MP. He states that the UK tests more than any other European country and journey distances are capped at 75 miles.
Chris Clarkson
Con
Eddisbury
Question
Can the Prime Minister assure constituents that these measures represent a circuit breaker rather than hard-wiring of policy?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister confirms that the intention is to depress R but keep economy and education functioning. The measures will be reviewed with scientific data in mind.
Ian Mearns
Lab
Blyth Valley
Question
Do these national measures supersede local restrictions already imposed on Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham? What additional support is available for businesses and workers there?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister confirms that the more stringent local measures will remain in place. Extra support is being provided to those areas.
Suzanne Webb
Con
Stourbridge
Question
Will the Prime Minister join her in thanking frontline staff at test centres and labs for their hard work?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister thanks NHS test and trace staff for their efforts, acknowledging the increased demand they face.
Sarah Owen
Lab
Luton North
Question
How can he justify that children at Eton get tests while those in Luton do not? Why are some children unable to afford or access testing?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister emphasises that every symptomatic child should be tested and expands testing capacity. He notes the virus's lesser impact on young people.
Marco Longhi
Con
Nuneaton
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that reinforcing hand washing, social distancing, and face coverings is key to supporting staff at hospitals?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister agrees with the MP's points on reinforcing these measures.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
What will the Government do about higher coronavirus death rates among black, Asian and minority ethnic residents as warned by Public Health England?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister mentions measures to protect frontline workers from BAME communities. He states that they are doing their best to get messages home.
David Jones
Con
Clwyd West
Question
To what extent have the new measures been co-ordinated with devolved Administrations?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister confirms high levels of collaboration between UK Government and devolved Administrations. He highlights discussions with Mark Drakeford about similar actions in Wales.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
Question
Will the Prime Minister ensure that none of his Ministers or advisers contradict rules set out today?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister states that all must obey guidance and urge others to do so.
Ian Levy
Lab
Blyth Valley
Question
Will the Prime Minister continue to support families through these restrictions, acknowledging the impact on Blyth Valley?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister thanks the MP and states that they will listen and respond to concerns.
Question
With 2.4 million households in the UK facing fuel poverty this winter, a figure that will only be exacerbated by the pandemic, will the Prime Minister consider introducing a one-off covid-19 winter fuel payment to every household at risk?
Minister reply
We will consider all sorts of measures to alleviate poverty and suffering in the months ahead. The best thing we can do is to follow this package of measures scrupulously, drive down the virus and keep the economy moving.
Question
The last six months have been tough for our country, and it sounds as though the next six months will be too. It is vital that we take our constituents with us and that they have confidence in and understand what is being asked of them... Can we have more of those “level with you” moments?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend. We will do everything we can to share the data with Parliament in real time and give colleagues the opportunity to debate and discuss the issues.
Stephen Doughty
Lab Co-op
Cardiff South and Penarth
Question
First, has he now fixed the problems in the UK Lighthouse lab system that have negatively affected Wales? Secondly, is it true, as Dido Harding has said, that people will have to pay for his so-called moonshot tests?
Minister reply
We are not only fixing the problems; as the hon. Gentleman will know, we are building four more Lighthouse labs... On the ambition for mass testing, I think that is a great thing, and the Government will support it.
Question
What confidence can we have that these measures will actually eradicate the virus? What discussions has the Prime Minister had with scientists and health experts to find a proper way forward?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend asks a most important question... The spread and the transmission of the disease is caused by contact between human beings and all the things that we are trying to minimise.
Barnsley South
Question
Sadly, the reason we are facing greater restrictions is that the Government have failed to establish an effective testing system. My constituent was not able to access a test for her son... When will the Prime Minister fix the testing system?
Minister reply
I increasingly think it is disgraceful that the Labour Opposition continue to blame NHS Test and Trace for the resurgence of the disease. There is a complete hiatus in their logic.
Question
Will he commit to regular reviews of these measures? As life keeps going, we need families... will he consider an early review of the rule of six for primary school children?
Minister reply
We will, of course, keep all these measures under review continually. None of them are measures that we want to bring in, but they are measures that we believe are necessary.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
I accept the need for these restrictions, but the Prime Minister must know that they come at the worst possible time... Will he meet me and tourism and hospitality industry leaders, so that we can find a solution?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for what he says on behalf of the tourism and hospitality industry in his area... I certainly undertake to ensure that his delegation is able to meet the relevant Minister to find a way forward.
Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement during these difficult times and congratulate him on rising to the challenge... What support can my right hon. Friend give retailers in these difficult circumstances?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for what she says. The best thing we can do for retail, which we opened up again in June, is to ensure that we keep it open and that people can keep going to the shops in a covid-secure way.
Apsana Begum
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
Question
Through the testing scheme, we have seen that the BAME population has suffered most from covid-19. What assurances can the Prime Minister give that ethnic minority communities can be prioritised for testing?
Minister reply
We grieve for what has happened in black and minority ethnic communities... We will do everything we can to get all the groups in our country that need testing the testing they deserve as fast as we possibly can.
Question
Constituents who have spent a lifetime in public service wrote to me over the weekend saying, “We are on the point of giving up”. Churchill said he had nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat... What can the Prime Minister say to people to give them hope?
Minister reply
I think we have every hope. You cut me off, Mr Speaker, when I was going to answer an earlier question—quite properly. The answer is that we have every chance, if we follow this package of measures, of driving the R down, keeping our economy moving and keeping education going.
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer acknowledges the Prime Minister’s statement on necessary measures but raises concerns about a lack of clear leadership and strategy. He questions the effectiveness of new restrictions, especially considering similar local lockdowns elsewhere have not significantly lowered infections. Keir also inquires about emergency financial support for those affected by these measures and criticises the Government's delay in addressing testing capacity issues that are now exacerbating the situation.
He calls on the Prime Minister to work with Labour and trade unions on a replacement scheme for furlough, recognising that without this support, businesses and livelihoods could suffer. Keir emphasises the need for clear leadership from the Government to prevent further escalation of the pandemic.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.