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Covid-19
12 May 2020
Lead MP
Andy Carter
Warrington South
Con
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
NHSEconomyEmploymentBusiness & TradeMental HealthLocal Government
Other Contributors: 32
At a Glance
Andy Carter 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 Response
NHSEconomyEmploymentBusiness & TradeMental HealthLocal Government
Government Response
Coronavirus presents the most serious public health emergency that our nation has faced for a generation. The debate highlighted the impact of the pandemic on constituents and the country as a whole, with recognition given to nurses and healthcare workers. The UK's four-nation approach involves close cooperation with devolved Administrations. The 2-metre distancing rule is based on scientific modelling data and global conditions influencing droplet spread. Green economy benefits were noted, encouraging flexible working and sustainable travel methods. BAME communities are at higher risk; Public Health England is studying the factors affecting these groups. Care sector support includes overhauling PPE delivery, testing residents and staff, and providing additional funding to local authorities. Despite supply chain challenges, over 1.2 billion items of PPE have been delivered. Testing capacity has increased, allowing essential workers, those over 65, and NHS/social care staff/patients to access tests regardless of symptoms. The UK's life science companies and pharmaceutical giants stepped up to meet testing demands quickly. Scientific advice is consistently followed, with SAGE membership and advice published online. Discussions on returning to school and pay for key workers will continue; detailed guidance will be provided soon. NHS services are gradually reopening, urging urgent care seekers not to delay treatment due to fear of infection. A life assurance scheme was set up for frontline health and social care colleagues contracting coronavirus at work. Government support includes £750 million for charities and mental health trusts were thanked for their efforts.
Andy Carter
Con
Warrington South
Expressed gratitude for the NHS and community efforts in combating covid-19, highlighting the success of the Bridgewater Trust's use of black boxes to treat patients. He also thanked volunteers and local council staff for their tireless work during the pandemic. Carter welcomed the Government’s easing of restrictions but expressed concern about support for small businesses affected by the virus.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Worsley and Eccles South
Expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones due to covid-19 in Salford. Stated that 246 people died due to the virus in her constituency, equating to a death rate of 95 per 100,000 residents.
Theresa May
Con
Maidenhead
Paid tribute to NHS workers and others who kept essential services running during the pandemic. Emphasised that there are no risk-free decisions in managing the virus but stressed the importance of considering both health risks and wider impacts on lives and livelihoods.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South and Walkden
Discussed issues faced by small businesses, including nurseries unable to access certain support schemes and the challenge of providing care for key workers' children. Highlighted the plight of those in serviced offices, sole-person limited companies relying on dividends, freelancers caught between furlough and self-employment schemes, and the hospitality industry.
Chingford and Woodford Green
Welcomed the Chancellor's statement about extending the furlough scheme while expressing concern over its cost. Raised issues with the balance between economic recovery and pandemic control, suggesting a broader approach than science alone. Criticised reliance on the Imperial College model for forecasting. Highlighted testing difficulties and questioned airport restrictions, urging the Government to reconsider social distancing rules.
Interjected briefly to address technical issues with video and audio connections during the debate.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Worsley and Eccles South
Expressed concerns about Government backtracking on support for local councils affected by the pandemic. Criticised schemes that leave individuals behind, particularly the self-employed scheme based on profit rather than turnover. Advocated for certainty in phasing out furlough and addressing mental health impacts of lockdown. Urged clearer messaging from the Prime Minister to avoid risking lives.
Neil Grey
SNP
Airdrie and Shotts
Paid tribute to frontline workers and community groups. Discussed issues such as welfare support for those affected by lockdown, including flaws in the self-employed scheme and mental health impacts. Criticised inconsistent messaging from the Prime Minister and urged better preparation for economic recovery.
Sarah Atherton
Lab
Wrexham
Expressed gratitude towards the UK Government's support package for businesses in Wrexham, highlighting local community efforts. Criticised Welsh Labour Government’s response as disjointed and chaotic, urging for a one-nation approach to manage R number. Advocated for a unified contact tracing app deployment across Wales and England.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Called for caution against tourism in the Highlands during the pandemic due to limited health services. Highlighted long-term economic impact on tourism businesses if they do not receive financial support until summer 2021.
Sara Britcliffe
Lab
Hyndburn and Haslingden
Welcomed Government’s strategy for cautious return to normality while prioritising lives. Emphasised the importance of levelling up agenda for disadvantaged communities in east Lancashire. Advocated for investment in green and sustainable infrastructure as a means of economic recovery.
Peter Bone
Con
Wellingborough
Critiques the Prime Minister for bypassing parliamentary democracy by announcing policy changes on television instead of in Parliament. Emphasises the importance of respecting parliamentary procedures and calls for future announcements to be made first in the House.
Alistair Carmichael
Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
Welcomes extension of furlough scheme but criticises inadequate support for self-employed individuals, especially those reliant on dividend income. Advocates for a unified UK government message to ensure effective pandemic response.
Barbara Keeley
Lab
Salford and Eccles
Expressed concern over the financial impact of the pandemic on local councils, highlighting that Salford City Council alone spent £33 million extra in the first six months. Called for confirmation from the government about covering all additional costs incurred by councils. Raised issues with business support, including lack of eligibility for certain businesses and self-employed individuals in creative industries. Highlighted confusion regarding new guidelines on working safely and asked for reassurances that no staff would be forced back to work before it was safe to do so. Questioned why social distancing rules were different for meeting family members compared to going back to work.
Jane Hunt
Con
Loughborough
Commended the nation's efforts in following social distancing rules and emphasised the need for a rapid economic recovery. Acknowledged the government’s support measures but called for more help for small businesses, especially those based in multi-tenancy buildings and dentists, to ensure they can restart operations effectively. Highlighted examples of local businesses adapting during the pandemic and praised their resilience.
Gavin Robinson
DUP
Belfast East
Praised community efforts in Belfast East for supporting neighbours during the pandemic. Raised concerns about extending the job retention scheme beyond June, particularly for the aviation and tourism sectors in his constituency. Highlighted issues with the self-employed income support scheme affecting Northern Ireland residents due to ID requirements. Also mentioned an increase in non-covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland.
James Wild
Con
North West Norfolk
Pays tribute to key workers in North West Norfolk, especially NHS and care sector staff; supports capital investment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn; highlights need for testing and PPE access for care homes; appreciates Chancellor's support measures for businesses; calls on hospitality businesses to prepare for reopening from July; emphasises importance of social distancing at coastal areas; praises response from voluntary groups, particularly for addressing rough sleeping.
Owen Thompson
Lab
Midlothian
Critiques the Prime Minister's approach for not being consistent across UK nations; supports local communities and their resilience efforts in Midlothian; welcomes Treasury’s response but calls for further measures to support businesses still left behind; appreciates extension of furlough scheme; suggests introduction of a universal basic income; advises UK Government to respect devolved settlement and take a cautious approach.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Offers condolences and praises frontline workers, key workers, and local support groups in Cumbria; appreciates the support measures from the Government; highlights changes that have helped tourism sector and acknowledges Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' response to calls for a dairy hardship fund; supports expansion of business grants, widening support for directors who pay themselves through dividends, and expanding flexibility of furlough scheme; praises veterinary professionals; emphasises importance of support targeted at slow-recovering businesses like those in tourism and hospitality.
Kirsten Oswald
SNP
East Renfrewshire
Expressed gratitude to key workers and volunteers in East Renfrewshire, criticised the UK Government's response as reckless and lacking preparation. Highlighted concerns over the Prime Minister’s lack of leadership during the pandemic, emphasised the importance of protecting jobs and enhancing employment rights, and called for a focus on fairness and sustainability in recovery efforts.
Huw Merriman
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Thanked constituents for their support and recognised the Government's assistance during the pandemic. Focused on challenges with local testing centres and the aviation sector, raising concerns about quarantine measures and job security in British Airways. Also discussed the importance of Gatwick airport and the safety of transport workers.
Steven Bonnar
SNP
Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
Critiqued the UK Government's response to the pandemic as a failure in leadership and preparation. Emphasised the impact of austerity on public services and criticised vague optimistic messaging from the government regarding returning to normalcy and work. Acknowledged the hard work of essential workers during this crisis.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Smith highlighted local community efforts and business adaptability in his constituency during the crisis. He praised initiatives such as the Risborough Basket and Bernie the Bus, while criticising HS2 Ltd’s contractors for not adhering to social distancing guidelines. He commended the government's financial support measures but called for further assistance for owner-directors paying dividends and suppliers to the events and hospitality sector.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Jardine emphasised the need for collaboration between the UK Government and Scottish Government in providing clear guidance during the crisis. She highlighted the economic impact on Edinburgh's airport, Royal Highland Show, and Edinburgh Festival, urging both governments to work together for a unified approach to business recovery.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Evans proposed establishing a 'department of virus legacy' to capture positive changes brought about by the pandemic. He noted improvements in teleconferencing and digital prescribing within healthcare, advocating for wider societal benefits such as remote working and community care.
Apsana Begum
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
Begum criticises the government's approach to lifting coronavirus restrictions, arguing that it puts workers' lives at risk by pressuring them back into work. She emphasises the need for urgent action to address unequal health and economic impacts on BAME communities. Additionally, she raises concerns about undocumented migrants being left destitute and highlights the lack of preparedness in public services due to spending cuts. Begum calls for a pay rise for NHS staff and immediate steps to ensure their safety.
Lee Rowley
Con
North East Derbyshire
Rowley expresses gratitude towards healthcare workers, jobcentre staff, schools, local councils, and individuals performing acts of kindness in his constituency during the pandemic. He acknowledges the unprecedented nature of the situation and the need for cautious decision-making due to the uncertainty surrounding the virus. Rowley is confident that progress has been made and remains optimistic about overcoming the pandemic through collective efforts.
Sarah Olney
Lib Dem
Richmond Park
Pays tribute to nurses at Kingston Hospital, transport workers who have died during the crisis, especially Belly Mujinga. Calls for PPE provision for essential workers. Advocates for investment in green travel solutions and economic recovery through sustainable means.
James Sunderland
Con
Constituency Unspecified
Pays tribute to key workers and local councils who have supported communities during the crisis. Supports a cautious approach to easing lockdown based on scientific advice, urging individuals to maintain social distancing. Calls for testing arrangements in care homes and reimbursement of costs incurred by councils.
Wera Hobhouse
Lib Dem
Bath
Expresses gratitude to essential workers and discusses the improvement in air quality due to reduced car usage during lockdown. Highlights opportunities for promoting walking and cycling as safer alternatives, advocating for changes that prioritise these modes of transport over cars.
Jon Ashworth
Lab
Derby South
The debate is about the response to the Coronavirus pandemic, emphasising the importance of saving lives and minimising harm. Mr Ashworth expresses concern over the high death toll, particularly in black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, calling for a thorough inquiry. He questions whether lockdown measures were implemented too late and criticises the lack of clarity in public health messaging. He supports continuing the lockdown to avoid a dangerous second wave but also recognises its economic and social costs. Mr Ashworth advocates for comprehensive testing, tracing, isolation strategies, and equitable access to these services. He highlights the need for additional support measures including targeted testing for healthcare workers, quarantining arrivals at airports, minimising outbreaks in care homes, and supporting NHS staff with PPE, fair pay, and safe staffing ratios.
Nadine Dorries
17:40:00
Coronavirus presents the most serious public health emergency that our nation has faced for a generation. The debate highlighted the impact of the pandemic on constituents and the country as a whole, with recognition given to nurses and healthcare workers. The UK's four-nation approach involves close cooperation with devolved Administrations. The 2-metre distancing rule is based on scientific modelling data and global conditions influencing droplet spread. Green economy benefits were noted, encouraging flexible working and sustainable travel methods. BAME communities are at higher risk; Public Health England is studying the factors affecting these groups. Care sector support includes overhauling PPE delivery, testing residents and staff, and providing additional funding to local authorities. Despite supply chain challenges, over 1.2 billion items of PPE have been delivered. Testing capacity has increased, allowing essential workers, those over 65, and NHS/social care staff/patients to access tests regardless of symptoms. The UK's life science companies and pharmaceutical giants stepped up to meet testing demands quickly. Scientific advice is consistently followed, with SAGE membership and advice published online. Discussions on returning to school and pay for key workers will continue; detailed guidance will be provided soon. NHS services are gradually reopening, urging urgent care seekers not to delay treatment due to fear of infection. A life assurance scheme was set up for frontline health and social care colleagues contracting coronavirus at work. Government support includes £750 million for charities and mental health trusts were thanked for their efforts.
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