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Backbench Business
18 June 2020
Lead MP
Dawn Butler
Debate Type
General Debate
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Other Contributors: 50
At a Glance
Dawn Butler raised concerns about backbench business 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:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The debate focuses on the disproportionate number of deaths from COVID-19 among Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. It calls for a government review of data on occupational risks and disparities in health outcomes. The hon. Member notes that structural inequalities have contributed to worse health outcomes for these groups. She criticises the Government's approach as illogical and irrational, citing their reluctance to address issues promptly until forced by public pressure.
Stephen Doughty
Lab Co-op
Cardiff South and Penarth
The hon. Member compliments his colleague on addressing the issue of disproportionate impacts on BAME communities in Wales, contrasting it with what he sees as the UK Government's inadequate response.
Erith and Thamesmead
The hon. Member raises concerns about workplace discrimination affecting ethnic minorities within the NHS, citing data showing BAME doctors feeling pressured to work in covid wards more than their white counterparts.
The hon. Member emphasises the importance of risk assessments for all workers, including Government Departments and outside contractors, highlighting risks faced by cleaners from the BAME community.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Stepney
The hon. Member calls for urgent government action to do risk assessments as lockdown restrictions ease, particularly focusing on inter-generational living situations that may increase risks for families at high risk.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
Butler argues for immediate action to address structural racism, emphasising the importance of conducting risk assessments, implementing test and trace systems, and ensuring easy access to PPE. She urges the Government to take responsibility for misleading statements regarding reports on racial inequalities during the pandemic.
Rosie Winterton
Party Not Mentioned
Constituency Not Mentioned
Order was called by Rosie Winterton, reminding Dawn Butler that she must address her remarks through the Chair and not directly to another Member of Parliament.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
Nokes acknowledges the importance of addressing racial inequalities in healthcare during the pandemic, highlighting the disproportionate impact on BAME communities. She discusses the challenges faced by BAME workers in the NHS hierarchy, including concerns over whistleblowing due to insufficient PPE.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Hillier raises the issue of insecure employment among BAME individuals who may face job loss for raising concerns, emphasising the need for safe channels for whistleblowing without fear of losing their jobs.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
The hon. Member for Brent Central highlighted uncomfortable truths regarding health inequalities faced by BAME communities during the pandemic, urging for action rather than just reviews or inquiries. The race disparity unit needs to not only collect data but also understand it and translate this understanding into actions to address structural inequalities in education, employment opportunities, and workplace rights. She emphasised the need for policy levers to ensure equal educational and job opportunities regardless of ethnicity and urged the Government to provide clear actions rather than warm words.
Maria Miller
Con
Basingstoke
Paid tribute to NHS workers from BAME communities and highlighted the importance of giving people a voice to speak out on health inequalities. Raised concerns about Public Health England's analysis being incomplete, not including breakdowns of individual occupations or comorbidities, and treating BAME communities as one homogeneous group. Emphasised the need for accurate data to understand each group individually and called for updates on work done around conclusions from the Women and Equalities Committee report.
Nusrat Ghani
Con
Sussex Weald
The hon. Member acknowledges personal loss and highlights institutional biases within Public Health England, criticising its failure to act on early warnings about disproportionate BAME deaths. She emphasises the lack of accountability in addressing racial inequalities and the need for functioning leadership to ensure measures are put in place to protect BAME staff.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
The right hon. Friend agrees that data was not necessary as evidence of disproportionate impact on BAME communities was visible in the media, supporting the call for better leadership within Public Health England.
Lilian Greenwood
Lab
Nottingham South
The impact of the pandemic on BAME communities is shocking, with black men and women four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white people. More than 90% of doctors who have died during the pandemic are BAME—double their proportion in the medical workforce. Poverty, housing conditions, where one lives, employment sectors, and racism all contribute to these inequalities. Greenwood calls for immediate action on Public Health England’s recommendations and emphasises the need for a detailed plan addressing systemic racism.
Naseem Shah
Lab
Bradford West
Shah highlights that previous reports like the Lammy review in 2017 highlighted structural inequalities faced by BAME communities. Despite these, black and minority ethnic people continue to face poverty, unemployment, overcrowding, homelessness, and language barriers during the pandemic. The Government spends very little on tackling racism (£219,000 compared to Prime Minister's plane rebranding costs of £900,000). Shah stresses that addressing racial inequality could add billions to the UK’s economy but calls out the government for not doing enough.
Theresa Villiers
Con
Chipping Barnet
Expressed deep concern over the impact of covid-19 on BAME communities, paying tribute to health and care workers from these backgrounds. Emphasised the need for research into why there is a disproportionate impact and called for better public health messaging tailored to all communities. Highlighted the NHS long-term plan's focus on prevention but stressed the need for tangible results in reducing inequalities.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Acknowledged that while progress has been made, structural racism persists, evidenced by over-representation of black people and other ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system. Criticised the lack of meaningful action despite numerous reports on institutional racism.
Felicity Buchan
Con
Kensington
Praised her BAME community for their contributions as frontline workers during the pandemic and emphasised the importance of practical plans to address inequalities, noting significant health disparities in Kensington. Advocated for 'levelling up' within inner cities as well as between regions.
Meg Hillier
Lab/Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Challenged Felicity Buchan on the Prime Minister's use of derogatory language, questioning whether she agrees with such statements or calls them out. Highlighted the importance of addressing racism in sensitive times.
Apsana Begum
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
My constituency is one of the most diverse in the country, with a large Bangladeshi population, and it is also one of the most deprived areas. BAME individuals face higher risks due to structural racism, working in jobs that cannot be done remotely, resulting in increased risk of contracting COVID-19. There are significant disparities in income, health conditions, living conditions, and access to services for BAME communities compared to their white counterparts. The PHE report highlighted the need for detailed research on these factors, including occupation. Urgent measures such as an amnesty for undocumented migrants, suspending NHS charging, and scrapping 'no recourse to public funds' are necessary.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
The PHE report found that being from a black or minority ethnic background is associated with significantly increased risks of death due to COVID-19. The government must urgently look into detailed scientific data on these factors to better understand the relationship between ethnicity, occupation, and health conditions. There needs to be an acceleration in efforts towards culturally competent health promotion and disease prevention programmes tailored for BAME communities. Access to quality education is key to tackling socioeconomic deprivation, a significant driver of acquired health conditions.
Tracy Brabin
Lab
Batley and Spen
The debate focuses on the impact of coronavirus on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in constituencies like Batley and Spen. The community is already exposed to underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma, with a raised risk of death involving COVID-19 compared to people of white ethnicity. Risk assessments for PPE access and social distancing were late and insufficient.
Naseem Shah
Lab
Bradford West
BAME staff make up 17% of the NHS workforce, yet only 11% are in senior management positions which drops to 6.4%. A BMA survey revealed that 64% of BAME staff felt pressured into working without personal protective equipment compared with 33% of non-BAME staff.
Tracy Brabin
Lab
Kirklees and Batley
We must not allow pressure on people to do their job to affect health outcomes for them and their family. The Kirklees local authority area remains one of the lowest affected by covid per size of population, with 179.6 cases per 100,000 people. We need better data reporting, support for low-paid jobs, risk assessment for BAME staff exposed to large numbers of the general public, culturally sensitive messaging and health messages around conditions leading to vulnerability.
Marco Longhi
Con
Dudley North
We need to level up support and listen to forgotten communities disproportionately impacted socially and economically. The Royal College of Psychiatrists highlights structural inequalities such as difficulty in accessing leadership teams, fewer opportunities for non-mandatory training, and higher risks of being bullied. We should focus on large-scale transformative change rather than individual measures.
Claudia Webbe
Ind
Leicester East
Expressed concern over the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on African, Asian and minority ethnic communities. Highlighted the need for protective measures to deal with the disparity in health outcomes. Noted that black people are 1.9 times more likely to die from covid-19 than white people and that Bangladeshi and Pakistani individuals are 1.8 times more likely, while those of Indian descent face a risk about 1.5 times higher. Emphasised the importance of ending the hostile environment for migrants and granting indefinite leave to remain to NHS workers and carers.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Congratulated Dawn Butler on securing the debate, praising her efforts in highlighting racism and inequality. Stressed the necessity of communities working together during the crisis but noted a disproportionate number of deaths among people from BAME communities. Highlighted that 40% of doctors and 20% of nurses come from BAME backgrounds. Emphasised the need for investment post-crisis, not further austerity measures. Called for universal healthcare access globally.
Sam Tarry
Lab
Ilford South
This is a deeply troubling moment for many minority communities, especially in Ilford South where BAME communities represent over 53% of the population. The local community has suffered greatly during the pandemic, with high death rates and job losses. People feel scared to speak out due to lack of support from the government. Frontline workers, such as those working in care homes, were often ill-equipped and forced to work despite being at risk. There is a need for self-reflection on how privileged individuals can be genuine allies to oppressed communities.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Disappointed by the current state of racial inequality in the UK, highlighted by the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities. Calls for immediate action beyond another review, including scrapping the hostile environment policy and amending laws like the Domestic Abuse Bill. Urges a comprehensive race equality strategy for the whole of the UK, acknowledging past efforts have not been sufficient. Advocates for better data collection to understand the impact on different communities.
Lyn Brown
Lab
Newham
Brown highlights that Newham has statistically the second highest mortality rate from COVID-19 in the country. She mentions several individuals who have died and emphasises the need for action before a second wave, stressing the deprivation faced by her community. She calls for an urgent review of vitamin D deficiency evidence, criticism towards under-representation in clinical trials for BAME communities, and addresses the economic constraints preventing sick people from isolating.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Onwurah congratulates Dawn Butler on securing the debate and discusses the relationship between Black Lives Matter and deaths among BAME key workers due to COVID-19. She critiques structural racism, citing examples such as higher representation of BAME in lower-paid NHS roles despite only 14% of the UK population being black. Onwurah calls for action rather than further investigations and underlines the need for better protection measures for BAME staff.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall
Eshalomi thanks Dawn Butler for the debate and addresses the high death rate among BAME people in her constituency. She cites Public Health England’s findings on higher mortality rates for black individuals compared to white ones, linking these statistics with structural inequalities. Eshalomi calls for concrete action from the Government to address racial inequality in society.
Kim Johnson
Lab
Liverpool Riverside
I thank Dawn Butler for organising this debate on the impact of systemic racism and health inequalities on black communities during the pandemic. The Office for National Statistics reports that black men and women are four times more likely to die from covid-19 than white men and women, highlighting pre-existing health disparities. Black individuals account for 63% of all NHS staff deaths from covid-19, working in higher-risk occupations and relying heavily on public transport with limited access to PPE. Public Health England's reports and the Government’s upcoming commission must lead to actionable change rather than mere rhetoric.
Stephen Timms
Lab
East Ham
I agree with Kim Johnson, thanking Dawn Butler for securing this debate. I focus on the 'no recourse to public funds' restrictions affecting families legally residing in the UK but unable to access basic welfare benefits and services due to their immigration status. This barrier exacerbates destitution, increases food bank demand, and limits housing options, especially in high-cost areas like London. At least 1 million people, including over 100,000 children, face these restrictions. The Home Office refuses to disclose detailed statistics on this issue, hindering effective support.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
I agree with Stephen Timms that 'no recourse to public funds' means no housing benefit, making private rental almost impossible in high-cost areas like London. This policy is outdated and exacerbates the challenges faced by families legally residing but unable to access necessary support during crises.
Zarah Sultana
Your Party
Coventry South
Marked the anniversaries of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the arrival of HMS Windrush, highlighting systemic racism leading to disproportionate deaths among black and brown people from coronavirus due to socio-economic inequalities. Emphasised the need for deep societal change beyond immediate measures like risk assessments and PPE.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Represented her colleague, spoke about the high covid-19 death rate in Hackney, where over 70% of housing waiting list applicants are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Highlighted that BAME communities disproportionately work in sectors with higher risk of exposure to coronavirus and often have fewer workplace rights.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Asked a question to his hon. Friend, reinforcing the need for immediate action rather than further reviews or investigations on systemic issues affecting BAME communities in health outcomes.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Supports a public inquiry into black deaths from COVID-19, highlights the need for action now to protect frontline workers who are disproportionately affected. Emphasises inequalities in overcrowded households and communication of public health messages. Discusses the digital divide and lack of internet access in Hackney. Criticises the Prime Minister's use of racist language.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Acknowledges the broader context of Black Lives Matter, discusses Bristol’s history with Edward Colston statue and its implications. Cites a report by University of Bristol academics on the impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities, highlighting higher risks for admission to critical care and death. Recommends income protection, reducing occupational risk, improving public health communications tailored to cultural challenges, removing NHS charges, and meaningful engagement with minority ethnic communities.
Mitcham and Morden
It is the pride of my life to represent a diverse constituency where many children from BAME communities are doing well in schools but struggle with overcrowded accommodation. The health service's plans to move A&E, maternity unit, and acute services further away ignore evidence that BAME communities will be disproportionately impacted due to higher reliance on these services. Despite the programme’s impact assessment acknowledging this issue, the NHS continues its plans without considering the pandemic's effects. I urge the Minister to address two cases in my constituency where families of workers who died from coronavirus should receive lump-sum payments.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Stepney
The debate highlights deep societal inequalities, particularly affecting BAME communities and white disadvantaged groups. Bangladeshi-origin individuals are twice as likely to contract coronavirus compared to their white counterparts. The Government must urgently address these structural inequalities by investing in housing, primary healthcare, and prevention measures. As lockdown eases, risk assessments should protect those who are shielded or have family members who are shielding from being forced back into work without proper protection.
Southgate and Wood Green
The debate focuses on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the UK. Mr Charalambous highlights that 16% of his constituency's population are from BAME backgrounds and shares the story of Sonya Kaygan, a care worker who died due to lack of PPE. He questions why there is such disparity in death rates among BAME individuals and points out that Public Health England’s second report on 'Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on BAME groups' indicates structural racism as a key factor. Charalambous mentions shocking data showing 63% of NHS staff deaths due to COVID-19 are from BAME backgrounds despite making up only 21% of staff. He concludes by urging the government to implement recommendations from previous reviews and prove their commitment to addressing structural racism.
Chris Stephens
SNP
Glasgow South West
Mr Stephens begins his speech by condemning far-right violence targeting asylum seekers in Glasgow. He discusses issues such as the Foreign Office's inconsistent approach towards bringing back British nationals from abroad, which disproportionately affects BAME individuals. He criticises the Government for providing a mere 26p increase in asylum support and calls it an 'absolute disgrace'. Stephens also touches on public service risk assessments and the treatment of BAME employees, mentioning industrial disputes over unequal pay practices within government departments. He urges Members to sign early-day motions supporting campaigns like 'Dying for sick pay' and 'Break the race ceiling', advocating for positive action in education to combat racism.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Coronavirus has laid bare many inequalities in the UK, with racial inequality being central. BAME communities have suffered disproportionately from coronavirus due to existing long-standing health inequalities, higher numbers of frontline workers in essential services, and inadequate risk assessments by the Government. There is an urgent need for action to protect BAME workers and address educational disparities caused by parental fear of increased risks. Racial inequality permeates various aspects of society including education, immigration, criminal justice, employment, housing, and leadership roles.
Anne McLaughlin
SNP
Glasgow North East
Acknowledged the SNP's support for Black Lives Matter and equality in Scotland. Highlighted the Scottish Government's analysis of BAME communities' impact from coronavirus and positive historical figures like Mary Seacole. Addressed the lack of representation of BAME women in public roles, including the Scottish Parliament. Emphasised the importance of teaching black history to children as a way to combat racism.
Anne McLaughlin
SNP
Glasgow North East
She has applied to have her constituency office registered and trained as a third-party hate crime reporting centre, set up an all-party parliamentary group on unconscious bias, and will keep listening more to people who experience racism. She also expressed three messages for the Minister and Government: BLM is about saving lives led by racial injustice; stop using the Lammy review as a cover; continue fighting racism wherever seen.
Tooting
She thanked her colleagues who have made contributions, highlighted the need for actions not words, and raised issues such as mental health of BAME people due to discrimination, poverty in BAME communities, reliance on NHS staff from these backgrounds. She criticised the Government's failure to prioritise BAME communities during the pandemic and called for risk assessments for BAME key workers exposed to large sections of the public. She also questioned why vital documents were not translated early in the crisis.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
She agreed that black communities should have had measures taken to shield them, stating this amounts to institutional racism. She asked whether the Government will take action instead of merely discussing it.
Jo Churchill
Con
Nottingham North
Congratulated the hon. Member for Brent Central on securing the debate, thanked Members for their contributions, highlighted the complexity of health inequalities before and during covid-19, agreed that the BAME community is not a homogenous group, acknowledged PHE's work in understanding risk factors and announced the establishment of an independent commission to examine ethnic disparities.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Asked the Minister how many more preventable BAME deaths will be seen by the end of the year, emphasising urgency in addressing health inequalities exacerbated by covid-19.
Government Response
Government Response
Acknowledged the complexity and multifaceted nature of health inequalities affecting BAME communities during the pandemic, highlighted the work done by Public Health England to understand risk factors and announced an independent commission to examine ethnic disparities with a report expected by the end of the year.
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