Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 22 April 2020 · 23 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 22 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Capacity for tests is now at 40,000 per day.
  • Raab acknowledges challenges in distributing tests and efforts to improve distribution.
  • Raab confirms that 69 NHS staff have died from coronavirus and commits to investigating social care worker deaths.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
NHS
Context

Labour leader Keir Starmer questions the Government's progress on meeting testing targets for coronavirus.

Question

The right hon. and learned Gentleman rightly raised the crucial issue of testing, which will be an incredibly important part of our strategy for transitioning from the current social distancing measures. However, I have to correct him: our capacity for tests is now at 40,000 per day. That is an incredibly important milestone. He is right to say that in the final week that will require a big increase, but of course a project like this requires an exponential increase in the final days, the final week, of the programme.

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)

Our capacity for tests is now at 40,000 per day. That is an incredibly important milestone. A project like this requires an exponential increase in the final days and we are working with a range of commercial partners to boost testing. Two super-labs are fully functional and Glasgow will be open later this week.

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Q2 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Care & Healthcare Workers NHS
Context

Labour leader Keir Starmer questions why the Government are not using all available test kits every day, despite having a testing capacity.

Question

I did not need correcting, because I gave the figure for the actual tests a day. The First Secretary says that there is capacity for 40,000 tests a day and I think it is really important that we fully understand what he just said, because it means that the day before yesterday 40,000 tests could have been carried out, but only 18,000 tests were actually carried out. All week, I have heard from the frontline, from care workers who are frankly desperate for tests for their residents and themselves—desperate.

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)

It is important to pay tribute, because there are two elements to this: getting the capacity up is half of it, and we are making good progress—I hope that the right hon. and learned Gentleman concedes that point—and the issue of increasing the demand, which is something we have control over. Of course we are making sure that the eligibility is broadened. Our focus should be on frontline NHS staff, broadened out to care workers and other key workers in a way that the system can manage.

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Q3 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Care & Healthcare Workers
Context

Keir Starmer highlights a logistical issue where social care workers, due to symptoms or family members with symptoms of coronavirus, are instructed to travel long distances to testing centers which is impractical without access to cars and public transport.

Question

Starmer criticizes the current system for distributing tests to care workers in need, pointing out that it often requires them to drive long distances to get tested. He calls on the government to improve distribution and make testing more accessible quickly.

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)

Raab acknowledges the challenges and explains efforts to improve distribution through local resilience forums, mobile labs, and support from the Army. He emphasizes the importance of reaching the national testing target and calls for unity in achieving it.

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Q4 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
NHS Social Care
Context

Starmer inquires about the number of NHS workers and social care workers who have passed away due to coronavirus, emphasizing a tragic case in Derbyshire.

Question

He requests for figures on the number of NHS and social care workers deceased from the virus, with a particular focus on the need for accurate data to ensure proper support measures are implemented.

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)

Raab agrees on the importance of providing full support to key workers and confirms that 69 NHS staff have died from coronavirus. He mentions difficulty in establishing a precise figure for social care workers but promises to look into it.

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Q5 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
NHS
Context

Starmer addresses the issue of PPE shortage, citing an example from a Unison care worker who lacks proper protection. He also references a survey showing that half of nursing staff feel pressured to work without adequate guidance-recommended levels of PPE.

Question

He demands an assurance on when frontline workers will receive the necessary protective equipment and criticizes the government's plan for not addressing these issues effectively.

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)

Raab acknowledges the critical need for PPE and highlights efforts made, such as delivering 1 billion items since the outbreak began. He mentions Lord Deighton's appointment to lead domestic efforts in sourcing and distributing PPE more efficiently.

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Q6 Ian Blackford SNP Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Blackford highlights the issues faced by individuals not receiving adequate support under current economic measures and proposes a universal basic income as a solution.

Question

Today, the Scottish National party is leading a cross-party call for a universal basic income to finally protect everyone. It will put cash in people's pockets and help ensure a strong economic recovery and a fairer society. Can the First Secretary of State give us a straight answer today: does he support that proposal, or does he reject it?

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)

I do not agree with the right hon. Gentleman's point on universal income. The Chancellor has, I think quite rightly, adopted and announced a series of measures, second to none in the world, to support workers through the job retention scheme and to ensure that for those who do not qualify, other support such as an increase in universal credit and working tax credits is able to deal with the challenge.

Answered

Not addressed: Universal basic income without being based on need would not provide targeted assistance to those most vulnerable in society.

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Q7 Ian Blackford SNP Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Blackford reiterates his call for a universal basic income, pointing out that many people are not receiving an income due to bureaucratic barriers.

Question

Of course, the simple fact is that many people are being left behind. Many people are not getting an income just now. A universal basic income is the right economic policy at the right time. Its time has come. More than 100 Members of Parliament from seven political parties—parties from across the four nations and regions of the United Kingdom—have come together to support this solution. Polling shows that 84% of the public now support it. A universal basic income is a solution that will provide support for anybody and, crucially, it will leave no one behind.

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State)

I thank the right hon. Gentleman but, as I made clear in my earlier answer, we want to make sure we provide support to those who need it most. A universal approach without reference to need, income or the most vulnerable in our society is not the way to achieve it.

Answered

Not addressed: Universal basic income would leave people behind and does not target resources at those most in need.

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Q8 Peter Bone Con Northampton North
Economy Taxation
Context

Concern over high bank interest rates for overdrafts and lack of support for savers.

Question

At this time of national emergency, many people are being forced to use their bank overdrafts, yet the banks are charging 20% interest per year, which they are going to increase to 40% in July. At the same time, they are offering savers a pathetic interest rate of 0.1%. Yet these are the same banks that were saved by billions and billions of pounds of taxpayers' money. What on earth is going on? When are the banks going to act in the national interest?

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Justice)

I thank my hon. Friend for his question; I am pretty sure I got the gist, and he is right to refer to the support that banks need to be providing to customers. Thanks to the work of the Chancellor, the major banks and building societies have provided relief to those impacted by coronavirus, including deferring mortgage and other loan repayments, increasing overdraft limits and increasing credit card limits. By the first week of April, 1.2 million mortgage payment holidays had been granted.

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Q9 Lucy Powell Labour (Co-op)
Economy Business & Trade
Context

The hospitality and retail sectors are critical to the high street but face prolonged closures due to government-enforced measures.

Question

Like Sam's Chop House, the Frog and Bucket, and hundreds more in Manchester, nearly three quarters of hospitality businesses do not qualify for grants—and for most, loans just are not an option. Given that the hospitality and retail sectors are the lifeblood of our high streets and are likely to face the longest Government-enforced closure, will the First Secretary extend cash grants and come up with a rescue package to stop thousands of pubs, restaurants, shops and venues disappearing altogether?

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Justice)

I certainly agree with the hon. Lady about the challenge that we have across all the sectors she mentioned in making sure that we see them through this incredibly difficult period. We want to make sure that the country, the economy, all those small businesses and all those sectors she mentioned can bounce back. The Chancellor has introduced a whole range of measures in relation to both finance—grants, where they are capable of being made—and other tax deferrals to assist small businesses in the sectors the hon. Lady described.

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Q10 Sally-Ann Hart Con Bosworth
Economy Business & Trade
Context

Tourism, leisure and hospitality industries are significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Question

Beautiful Hastings and Rye is heavily dependent on tourism as a major driver in the local economy. Covid-19 has badly hit the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries. Has my right hon. Friend considered what measures are needed, first, to encourage domestic tourism, and secondly, to ensure that tourism and tourism-related businesses are given the right support to enable recovery from the impact of covid-19 and revive our local economies?

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Justice)

My hon. Friend makes a really important point. We know that the coronavirus is significantly affecting the tourism industry. That point was made by the hon. Member for Manchester Central (Lucy Powell) as well. The Chancellor has set out unprecedented support for businesses and workers, including those in the tourism sector. That includes business rate support for hospitality and leisure businesses. We have also announced a £1.3 million scheme through VisitEngland to provide support to destination management organisations at risk of closure because of the coronavirus pandemic in order to see them through this difficult time.

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Q11 Barry Gardiner Lab Brent North
NHS
Context

The Government is accused of not following scientific advice on a timely basis.

Question

The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies recommended an urgent lockdown to save lives on 26 February, but it took another three and a half weeks to implement it. The Government like to claim that they have been following the scientific advice, but they haven't, have they?

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Justice)

We have at every stage, from January, when the original crisis started to break out in China, right the way through to the moment several weeks ago when we announced our social distancing measures, followed meticulously, carefully and assiduously the advice both from the chief scientific adviser and the chief medical officer. As a result of that, and as a result of the measures we have put in place, two things have happened.

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Q12 Nicholas Fletcher Con Wakefield
NHS
Context

Local councils need to ensure adequate PPE supplies for NHS key workers and other frontline staff.

Question

What recent steps have the Government taken to ensure that the NHS has adequate supplies of personal protective equipment?

Answer from Dominic Raab (First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Justice)

This has been raised already in this House, and it is critically important. I totally agree with my hon. Friend on the imminent need for getting the PPE to the places that need it most. Since the start of the outbreak, we have delivered 1 billion items of personal protective equipment, and we have ensured that we have distributed it via the devolved Administrations so that all four nations get the equipment they need.

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Q13 Matt Vickers Con West Lancashire
NHS
Context

The Government committed to writing off £13 billion of debt for hospital trusts, freeing up resources during the crisis.

Question

Welcoming this commitment, Matt Vickers asks if the government remains committed to record levels of NHS funding and seeks confirmation on capital investment in North Tees Hospital.

Answer from Dominic Raab (The First Secretary of State and Leader of the Commons)

Under this government, record funding will be enshrined in law with a hospital building programme in progress. In response to the coronavirus, £6.6 billion is allocated to the NHS as part of a £14.5 billion emergency response. North Tees Hospital is encouraged to develop plans for new infrastructure and the government will review these carefully.

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Q14 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberavon
Economy Business & Trade
Context

Tata Steel has estimated a significant financial impact due to the pandemic.

Question

The Port Talbot steelworks is crucial for post-pandemic recovery, but the business interruption loan scheme's cap of £50 million may not suffice. Stephen Kinnock asks if the government will lift this cap to support Tata Steel and the wider industry through the crisis.

Answer from Dominic Raab (The First Secretary of State and Leader of the Commons)

Business interruption loans are available, with changes made to expedite access; 12,000 loans have been approved. The steel sector in Stephen Kinnock's constituency is under review by the Chancellor to ensure targeted support for essential economic elements.

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Q15 James Sunderland Lab Sunderland Central
NHS
Context

Various organizations have adapted their operations to address the pandemic.

Question

Acknowledging the collective effort against the virus, James Sunderland commends British resilience and asks Dominic Raab about essential ingredients for navigating through this crisis.

Answer from Dominic Raab (The First Secretary of State and Leader of the Commons)

Team effort, resilience, initiative, and support from NHS workers, carers, voluntary sector members, delivery drivers, supermarket staff are key. Like James Sunderland, Dominic Raab pays tribute to these efforts.

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Q16 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
NHS
Context

There have been delays in implementing promises made by the government.

Question

Acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of handling the pandemic, Ruth Cadbury asks Dominic Raab about learning from lessons, particularly referencing the success of Nightingale hospitals.

Answer from Dominic Raab (The First Secretary of State and Leader of the Commons)

With an unprecedented challenge, learning is critical. The government acknowledges achievements like Nightingale hospitals' rapid construction and securing 1 billion items of PPE while ensuring NHS capacity has not been overwhelmed.

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Q17 Nicola Richards Lab West Bromwich East
Immigration
Context

Around 100 constituents are currently in India amid the pandemic.

Question

Acknowledging government efforts, Nicola Richards asks for an update on the progress made in bringing back British nationals from India.

Answer from Dominic Raab (The First Secretary of State and Leader of the Commons)

No direct answer is provided, as Dominic Raab does not respond specifically to Nicola Richards' question.

Not addressed: Specific progress update on repatriation scheme from India

How: Didnotrespond

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Q18 Edward Davey Lib Dem Kingston upon Hull East
NHS
Context

In his answer to the Leader of the Opposition, the Foreign Secretary mentioned a consultant who died at Kingston Hospital and paid tribute to him.

Question

Edward Davey asked about Dr Anton Sebastianpillai's death in the NHS while treating coronavirus patients. He requested an independent judge-led inquiry into how the crisis has been handled so we can learn lessons for future pandemics, and on behalf of those who made sacrifices like Dr Sebastianpillai.

Answer from The First Secretary of State Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab thanked Edward Davey for his tribute and confirmed that there are lessons to be learned but declined to commit to an immediate public inquiry. He stated the focus must remain on saving lives, protecting NHS staff and steering through the crisis rather than engaging in inquiries at this time.

Answered

Not addressed: Commitment to a future independent inquiry immediately after the pandemic

How: Declining Immediate Commitment

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Q19 Fay Jones Lib Dem DC
NHS Defence
Context

The Army has been playing a significant role in the UK's response to the virus, with Brecon barracks playing an important part.

Question

Fay Jones thanked the Army for quickly setting up the joint military command at Brecon barracks and expressed pride that it is the home of the Army in Wales. She asked if the First Secretary of State could join her in thanking them and acknowledged concerns about the future of the barracks.

Answer from The First Secretary of State Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab joined Fay Jones in praising the effort made by armed forces across all four nations, highlighting their work building hospitals, driving ambulances, delivering PPE, and thanked them along with other key workers.

Answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to Brecon barracks future

How: Broad Acknowledgment Without Specific Commitment

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Q20 Liz Saville-Roberts PC Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Context

There is concern that if the lockdown is lifted in one nation or region prematurely, it may cause confusion and increase infection spread.

Question

Liz Saville-Roberts asked about the four-nations approach's meaningfulness regarding unlocking lockdown measures. She wanted confirmation on whether lifting could only happen by unanimous agreement among all four Governments.

Answer from The First Secretary of State Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab paid tribute to the Administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He mentioned excellent co-operation through Cobra meetings and consistency in social distancing measures. He stated they aim for collaborative work as they move into the second phase.

Answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to unanimous agreement

How: Acknowledged Importance Of Cooperation But Did Not Commit

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Q21 Luke Evans Con Cardiff South and Penarth
Economy Environment
Context

Twycross Zoo, along with others like Bristol Zoo, Chester Zoo, and London Zoo, is incurring overheads of £650,000 a month without income due to lockdown. They have requested £100 million from the Government.

Question

Luke Evans highlighted Twycross Zoo's world-renowned conservation work but noted its financial struggles during the pandemic. He asked for support so that it can continue its important role in caring for endangered species.

Answer from The First Secretary of State Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab agreed with Luke Evans about the importance of looking after zoos and announced that a new zoos support fund will be launched soon, alongside Treasury financial support. He urged zoos to contact Defra for tailored assistance.

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Q22 Angela Eagle Lab Wallasey
NHS
Context

The UK and other G20 countries endorsed a comprehensive communiqué on covid-19. The USA has criticized the WHO, leading to concerns about its role in global health security.

Question

Angela Eagle referred to the G20 endorsement of a plan for future pandemic preparedness which was vetoed by the USA due to its attacks on the World Health Organisation. She asked if Britain believes the WHO is critical to global health security and will not join the US attack.

Answer from The First Secretary of State Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab thanked Angela Eagle for her question and did not specify if the UK would be drawn into any 'vendetta'. He stated that the UK has been working closely with the WHO, but did not explicitly commit to a stance.

Answered

Not addressed: Explicit commitment to WHO's role without direct mention of US criticism

How: Broad Acknowledgment Of Work With Who

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Q23 Dominic Raab Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

Discussion on the UK's role in supporting global efforts, particularly through institutions like the WHO.

Question

First, I reassure the hon. Lady that we fully support international efforts. Indeed, we are a leading player—whether on vaccines or on supporting vulnerable countries—in helping to get through what is a global crisis. We recognise that the WHO has a role to play. It is not perfect—no international institution is.

Answer from The Prime Minister (Full Name) or other minister with title

First, I reassure the hon. Lady that we fully support international efforts. Indeed, we are a leading player—whether on vaccines or on supporting vulnerable countries—in helping to get through what is a global crisis. We recognise that the WHO has a role to play. It is not perfect—no international institution is. We do need to work to reform it, but we have made it clear that we consider it to be an important part of the international response, and the UK will continue to lead the way in that effort.

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