Topical Questions 2020-03-23
2020-03-23
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Concerns raised about personal protective equipment and personnel shortages in local resilience forums.
What conversations is the Home Secretary having with police forces to ensure they have necessary resources during the covid-19 crisis?
Daily conversations across entire policing network; Government working closely with partners including emergency services on PPE, suitable testing. Coordinating supplies and policing response as per requests from police officers and chiefs.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Concern about destitution facing people with no access to benefits due to immigration rules during the coronavirus crisis.
When can we expect an assurance on offering financial support to those who are not legally entitled to any kind of benefits?
Working across Government with Treasury, DWP; committed to providing support at all levels. Will come back on specific point in due course.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Issue of panic buying, rising tensions at shops affecting elderly and vulnerable individuals.
What measures is the Home Secretary taking to ensure sufficient security personnel for shop safety and availability of essential goods?
Discussing with SIA about additional support; closely monitoring situation with police. Hope public will behave appropriately in next few days.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Request for urgent revision of immigration detention, reporting requirements, shared accommodation rules.
Are all mentioned issues being urgently reviewed by Home Office?
Yes. All such issues under urgent review.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Recognition of crucial roles played by 'low-skilled' workers during crisis.
Will the Minister consider reviewing points-based system to reflect lessons learnt from current situation?
Commitment to keep all aspects of points-based system under review; ensuring tradeable points based on skills and labour market need across sectors.
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Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
Concerns raised about retail worker safety, threat of being spat on for refusing bulk buying.
Will the Minister revisit statements made to ensure protection of retail workers who need to continue at work?
Important point; reviewing statements made regarding protection of retail workers. Ensuring care and compassion for essential service provision.
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Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
Ben Bradley highlights the importance of fire services beyond firefighting, especially in public safety and health measures.
What conversations has she had with the fire services about what role they might play in supporting our efforts to tackle coronavirus, and will she ensure that they have all the resources they need for this particular crisis and for the future?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Today we have spoken clearly about policing and the daily calls we have with the police, but there is a similar system with the fire service, which is providing incredible work and support, particularly for vulnerable communities across the country. We should all pay tribute to the fire services; their work is truly remarkable. They are an integral feature of the local resilience forums that cover all our constituencies, and we are in close contact with them to ensure that they are getting the equipment, support and resources they need throughout this crisis.
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Q8
Direct Answer
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Context
Chris Bryant raises concerns about the immigration status of foreign national doctors and medical students, who face significant costs for visa renewals.
Would it not simply make sense for the Government to announce as swiftly as possible that they will waive all fees for such doctors and medical trainees, that they will try to ensure that those processes can be expedited and that anybody who wants to stay can stay?
Let me give the hon. Gentleman, his constituents and all public health workers in that category reassurance. Some very fast work is taking place at the Home Office right now to look at exactly that issue. I would be very happy to write to the hon. Gentleman outlining that work.
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Q9
Direct Answer
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Context
A number of individuals with expiring visas are facing difficulties in returning to India.
Over the weekend, I was alerted to a situation where religious workers, students, and business people whose visas are soon to expire are not able to return to India. What advice does my right hon. Friend have for these individuals?
We are going to announce changes we will make very soon. I will write to my hon. Friend and all colleagues about how we will enable extensions.
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