Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Isolation Support

Tuesday 23 February 2021 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial discussions have focused on the adequacy of isolation support for those testing positive for covid-19.
  • Seventy percent of applications for financial support for self-isolation are being rejected, according to Labour representatives.
  • Local authorities have received discretionary payments to assist individuals unable to claim self-isolation support due to Test and Trace system failings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Yasmin Qureshi Lab Bolton South and Walkden
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

The issue concerns the financial assistance provided to those isolating due to a positive COVID test.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of isolation support for people who have tested positive for covid-19. I am concerned about the lack of adequate financial support for individuals required to self-isolate due to testing positive, leading to potential hardship and non-compliance.

Answer from Jo Churchill

The Government have put together a range of measures to support people through the current crisis. These include Test and Trace support payments for those on low incomes, support for renters, help with utilities, the £500 million local authority hardship grant, the £170 million covid winter grant scheme and a £7.4 billion package of additional welfare support in 2021. The Government keep all elements of their covid response under review, as is right, to support people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specify recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on isolation support measures.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Kim Johnson Lab Liverpool Riverside
NHS Local Government
Context

Local authorities are struggling with the funds required to support individuals who need to self-isolate.

Question

The lack of financial support to those self-isolating has resulted in an extremely low adherence rate. Seventy percent of those who apply for financial support are rejected. Will the Government consider increasing funding to cash-strapped local authorities to ensure that people have the financial means to self-isolate to control the spread of the virus?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. We are continuing to work across Departments and with local authorities to monitor the effectiveness of the self-isolation support provided to people who have tested positive, their close contacts and their families. She is right that we continually look at this to ensure that we have the correct information. Currently, with NHS Test and Trace, we are carrying out surveys of reported compliance with self-isolation for people who have tested positive. The results are not published yet, but we have a clear set of parameters and the funding has been allocated to councils to assist with discretionary grants.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to increasing funding specifically.

How: Continually Look At

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Q3 Imran Hussain Lab Bradford East
NHS
Context

The Health Secretary has not responded to a November letter raising serious concerns about the Test and Trace system's failings.

Question

Last November, I wrote to the Health Secretary to raise a number of serious concerns that have been raised with me by many of my constituents who are unable to claim their self-isolation support payment because of failings with the privately run Test and Trace system. Three months later, I have still not had a response. We all know how keen the Health Secretary is to avoid scrutiny of the contracts that his Department have issued, but he cannot bury his head in the sand and pretend that these problems do not exist. Can I get an assurance from the Minister that I will get a response and that the problems that I have raised will be addressed?

Answer from Jo Churchill

The Health Secretary has assured me that he has seen the hon. Gentleman's letter. It is important that people understand that they need to self-isolate and they are given the right assistance. This is why the discretionary payments have been made to councils, so that we can make those decisions locally to support people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to providing a substantive response or addressing specific issues raised in the letter.

How: Decisions Should Be Local

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Q4 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
NHS
Context

The current scheme only allows one in eight people to qualify for a self-isolation payment.

Question

We agree with that. We have been making that point for months, along with most of the expert advisers in the Government, which is why creating a scheme that only one in eight people who test positive will actually qualify for a self-isolation payment was never going to work. Will the Minister tell us why, despite yesterday's announcement, it is still the case that only one in eight people who test positive will actually qualify for a self-isolation payment?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. It is important that we have targeted support and that we support the people who need assistance, so that they can self-isolate. It is, exactly as I outlined in my first answer, what we have been doing, and as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said yesterday, we will continue to look after people through the pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not explain why only one in eight qualify for support.

How: Targeted Support

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Q5 Yasmin Qureshi Lab Bolton South and Walkden
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

A shop worker has a daughter who needs to isolate after being sent home from school, facing potential financial hardship.

Question

My constituent, a shop worker, has a daughter who was sent home from school to isolate. She will not get paid, will not get sick pay and is worried about losing her job. She needs money to put food on the table for her family. Will the Minister tell the Chancellor that we cannot keep the infection rate down if people are not given adequate financial support?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I would also like to point out that, in her area, 93% of cases are being tracked and people are being spoken to, which highlights the great work that is being done on the ground locally in that area. We are providing support, and I would urge her constituent to reach out to the council, because it is important that we give people the support they need in order to isolate.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific financial assistance needed by the constituent.

How: Urges To Contact Local Authority

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