Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Older People: Covid-19

Wednesday 23 September 2020 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Philippa Whitford inquired about steps taken by the Department to support older people during the covid-19 outbreak.
  • The Department prioritised continuing the delivery of the state pension and pension credit to both new and existing customers.
  • The importance of accessible communications for elderly and disabled individuals, particularly those living alone, was highlighted by the Minister.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Philippa Whitford SNP
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses the support measures for elderly individuals during the ongoing pandemic, focusing on financial and informational assistance.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support older people during the covid-19 outbreak. The issue of providing continued support for pensioners while ensuring that vulnerable groups such as those in the shielding category are catered for financially has been raised.

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

Our priority has been to continue delivering the state pension and pension credit to new and existing customers. We also supported those in the shielding group who would normally have had to rely on cash through the post office to cover their weekly outgoings.

Answered
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Q2 Philippa Whitford SNP
NHS Safeguarding & DBS Mental Health
Context

The question highlights the challenges faced by elderly and disabled individuals who may struggle with online platforms, emphasizing the need for accessible information dissemination.

Question

We know that elderly and disabled people, especially those living alone, are less likely to access online platforms. During this covid pandemic, knowing the rules and understanding the ideas and information behind them is critical, so will this UK Government be re-establishing regular briefings, including British Sign Language translation, as we have in Scotland, so that no one misses out on vital information?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

The hon. Member is absolutely right to highlight the importance of accessible communications. It was an issue raised particularly in the early stages that we then shared cross-Government. I am delighted that BSL, for example, was then picked up by the BBC and that is then provided. Yesterday, the Prime Minister's statement to the House was also simultaneously interpreted by a BSL interpreter. That was a very valid point to raise.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Regular briefings with British Sign Language translation

How: Highlighting Progress But Not Committing To Regular Briefings

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