Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Tourism is crucial for the economy of East Devon and other parts of the south-west. Due to coronavirus restrictions, Simon Jupp is asking visitors to come back later.
While I am currently asking visitors to come back later, once the lockdown has ended, I want to make sure that our vital tourism industry survives so that we can be open for business at the earliest opportunity. Can the Prime Minister assure me, my constituents and East Devon's tourism industry that further and flexible financial support is coming to protect this crucial industry?
Yes indeed I can. We are adding another £1.3 million to help the tourism industry in East Devon, and our priority is now to suppress this disease further while getting our economy going again and encouraging tourism across our whole country.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Keir Starmer welcomed the Prime Minister back to Parliament and congratulated him on his son's birth. He then questioned the Government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
When the Prime Minister returned to work a week ago Monday, he said that many people were looking at the “apparent success” of the Government's approach, but yesterday we learned that, tragically, at least 29,427 people in the UK have now lost their lives to this dreadful virus. That is now the highest number in Europe and the second highest in the world. That is not success, or apparent success, so can the Prime Minister tell us: how on earth did it come to this?
At every stage, we were governed by one overriding principle and aim, which was to save lives and to protect our NHS. Of course there will be a time to look at what decisions we took and whether we could have taken different decisions, but I have absolutely no doubt that what the people of this country want us to do now is, as I have just said, to keep suppressing the disease and to begin the work of getting our country's economy back on its feet.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Keir Starmer criticized the Government for its response to the pandemic, pointing out that it was slow into lockdown, slow on testing, and slow on protective equipment.
I want to go to yesterday's figures, which show that while, happily, it looks as though deaths in hospitals are falling, deaths in care homes continue to go up. At the press conference last night, the deputy chief scientific adviser said that “what that shows us is that there is a real issue that we need to get to grips with about what is happening in care homes.” I could not agree more, but 12 weeks after the Health Secretary declared that we were in a health crisis, I have to ask the Prime Minister: why have the Government not got to grips with this already?
We have been working very hard for weeks to get it done, and a huge amount of effort has been made by literally tens of thousands of people to get the right PPE to care homes and to encourage workers in care homes to understand what is needed. I can tell him that he is not right in what he just said about the state of the epidemic in care homes.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Keir Starmer questioned the Prime Minister on the Government's claim of success in meeting their target of 100,000 tests a day.
On 30 April, the Government claimed success in meeting their 100,000 tests a day target. Since then, as the Prime Minister knows, the number has fallen back. On Monday, there were just 84,000 tests, and that meant 24,000 available tests were not used. What does the Prime Minister think was so special about 30 April that meant that testing that day was so high?
Yes, he is right that capacity currently exceeds demand. We are running at about 100,000 a day, but the ambition, clearly, is to get up to 200,000 a day by the end of this month, and then to go even higher.
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Q5
Direct Answer
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Keir Starmer questioned the Government's decision to abandon contact tracing in mid-March.
Contact tracing was happening in the UK, but it was abandoned in mid-March. We were told at the time that this was because it was “not an appropriate mechanism”, but yesterday the deputy chief medical officer said that it was to do with testing capacity. Can the Prime Minister clarify the position for us? Why was contact tracing abandoned in mid-March and not restarted sooner?
As he knows, and as the whole House will know, a fantastic testing regime is going to be absolutely critical to our long-term economic recovery.
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Q6
Direct Answer
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There are ongoing issues with the supply of PPE, as reported by a recent survey.
Keir Starmer expressed concern over the lack of adequate protective equipment for medical professionals and others. He questioned whether people can return to work safely without a robust national plan for providing necessary protective gear.
Yes, I can reassure the public. The government shares frustrations about PPE supply issues but has been ramping up domestic production and is working on a long-term solution with Lord Deighton's involvement to ensure future needs are met.
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Q7
Direct Answer
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Many people are on furlough or dealing with childcare responsibilities while in lockdown.
Keir Starmer asked if the Prime Minister can provide reassurance to those returning to work and their children returning to school by presenting a plan on Monday that details measures for safety and reintegration into society.
Yes, a statement will be made to the House. The reason for Sunday's announcement is to ensure data supports proposed measures, allowing the government to implement some changes promptly.
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Q8
Direct Answer
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Criticism of certain Ministers for not collaborating with devolved governments on coronavirus response.
Committed to working towards a shared agenda but criticised certain ministers, particularly the Secretary of State for Scotland, for making political arguments rather than focusing on scientific evidence. Highlighted the need for collaboration between all levels of government to protect NHS and save lives. Asked whether PM would commit to full agreement with devolved nations ahead of his Sunday address about easing lockdown.
Thanked Blackford for kind words towards Wilfred; acknowledged shared aims. Pledged to ensure outline of address attracts wide consensus, avoiding political arguments about constitution in favour of scientific discussions on saving lives.
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Q9
Direct Answer
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Concern over shortfall in funding promised by Government to compensate councils for expenses incurred due to coronavirus.
Welcomed PM back and praised Halton and Cheshire West and Chester councils for essential services. Raised issue of financial support shortfall for councils, both locally and nationally. Inquired about fulfilling the promise of full compensation to prevent return to austerity measures.
Acknowledged concern; assured no intention of returning to austerity. Noted £3.2 billion allocated for supporting councils and vulnerable individuals. Emphasised importance of suppressing virus and restarting economy to ensure better chances of funding reaching those in need.
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Q10
Direct Answer
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Request to address inconsistency between cremation and burial guidelines for funerals, allowing small church services with social distancing.
Congratulated PM on return; expressed condolences for Ashley Potter's family. Asked about discrepancy between rules for burials versus cremations, proposing funeral allowance with social distancing and faith service for families preferring burial.
Acknowledged request; asked councils to facilitate attendance at burials without breaching social distancing rules, suggesting this as a balanced approach.
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Q11
Direct Answer
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The Government has increased universal credit, but no similar increase for ESA has been announced.
Given that the Government are refusing even to discuss universal basic income, I was glad to see them at least recognise the need for an increase in universal credit entitlement. However, no such increase has been announced for employment and support allowance. Does the Prime Minister have plans for a similar increase in ESA, and if not, can he explain why he feels that people who are sick or have a disability require less support at this time?
As the hon. Lady knows, what we have done is remove the seven-day waiting time for ESA. I am glad that she pays tribute to the big increase in universal credit, with another £1,040 benefiting 4 million families across the country—a total investment of £7 billion.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific plans for an increase in ESA were addressed.
Response accuracy