Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Risk and Outcome Disparities

Wednesday 21 October 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

  • Shaun Bailey inquired about recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues and stakeholders on disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19.
  • The Minister stated that the Prime Minister tasked them to lead cross-Government work focusing on ethnicity, which includes extensive engagement with the Race Disparity Unit and external stakeholders.
  • Shaun Bailey also asked about preventing widening opportunity gaps in education due to the effects of COVID-19, specifically mentioning the community of Princes End.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Shaun Bailey
NHS
Context

The question arises from ongoing discussions about the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on certain demographics, specifically related to ethnicity.

Question

What recent discussions have you had with Cabinet colleagues and stakeholders regarding the disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

In June, the Prime Minister asked me to lead cross-Government work on this issue, with a particular focus on ethnicity. I will update the House on the findings of my work in full tomorrow. The work involved extensive engagement by the Race Disparity Unit and me, with colleagues and external stakeholders, including academics and experts from University College London, the London School of Economics, Oxford University, medical experts from the British Medical Association and many ministerial colleagues.

Answered
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Q2 Shaun Bailey
Education
Context

The question focuses on the detrimental effects of the pandemic on school attendance and educational outcomes, particularly affecting white working class children.

Question

One unfortunate impact of COVID-19 has been its effect on educational attainment. Will my hon. Friend ensure that efforts are made to prevent widening opportunity gaps in communities such as Princes End?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

My hon. Friend is right to raise the importance of children of all backgrounds being in school and their educational attainment and wellbeing more broadly. The Government have been clear that limiting attendance at schools should be a last resort. We are providing laptops for disadvantaged pupils and 4G routers for families without mobile or broadband, among other measures. On disparities in attainment, the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities is examining outcomes for all ethnic groups.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not specifically address the widening educational opportunity gaps for white working-class children as requested.

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