Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Government Response to Covid-19 — [Sir Charles Walker in the Chair]

03 November 2020 · 12 other contributors · 13,693 words

Opened by Richard Drax Con South Dorset

Responding minister: Penny Mordaunt

EconomyNHS

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Richard Drax raised concerns about government response to covid-19 — [sir charles walker in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Richard Drax is concerned that lockdown measures delay the spread of the virus without effectively preventing it and highlights the oppressive nature of fines and curfews.
  • Drax calls for the government to protect vulnerable individuals while allowing the general population to return to normal life with sensible precautions, including keeping schools and businesses open.
  • The minister responded that the lockdown's aim is to prevent NHS capacity from being overwhelmed and to reduce deaths from COVID-19, acknowledging the economic costs but arguing that not acting would lead to higher overall costs.

Key requests to Government

Drax urges the Government to abandon lockdowns in favour of protecting vulnerable individuals while allowing the majority of the population to resume normal life with common-sense precautions. He also calls for transparency on the number of deaths caused by lockdown measures and stresses the importance of keeping schools open, universities functioning as usual, and businesses operational.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Richard Drax Con South Dorset

Richard Drax is concerned about the effectiveness of lockdown measures and their impact on personal freedoms. He highlights that lockdowns delay the inevitable spread of the virus, suggesting they have not worked as intended. Drax mentions contradictory advice given to the Government and points out that some forecasts predicting high death rates did not materialise. He also raises issues with current regulations such as fines for gatherings exceeding 30 people and a curfew at 10pm, arguing these measures are oppressive and harmful to businesses.

Other contributors (12)
  • Alison Thewliss SNP Glasgow Central

    The UK's response to the coronavirus was not effective, as evidenced by over a million cases and nearly 47,000 deaths. The Government ignored scientific advice from devolved governments and failed to provide adequate support for freelancers, those on minimum wage, and recipients of legacy benefits.

  • Bob Seely Con Isle of Wight

    He questioned the validity of the '4,000 deaths' statistic and noted that the researcher behind it now advises against using this figure. Expressed concern about the Government's use of data and science in their response to the pandemic. Criticized lockdowns as a strategy, citing various scientists who have questioned their effectiveness. Called for a peer review of evidence received by the Government from organisations like Imperial College. Asked Alison Thewliss a question during her speech but the content was not provided in the transcript.

  • Chris Green Con Blackpool West

    He expressed concern over the lack of evidence supporting the rule of six and 10 pm curfew measures. Chris Green expressed concern over the Government's inconsistent approach to lockdown measures, noting that Bolton has faced multiple rounds of restrictions and economic impacts. He highlighted the need for greater transparency and reflection on past decisions, and questioned the rationale behind closing gyms, particularly considering women's health.

  • Daniel Kawczynski Con Shrewsbury and Atcham

    He recalled past Labour criticism of fiscal austerity, arguing that without it the current financial situation would be worse. He pointed out the reduction in deficit from £152 billion to £20 billion over the last decade. Kawczynski discussed the impact of devolution during the pandemic, expressing concern about increased divergence between English and Welsh jurisdictions. He criticised Andy Burnham's conduct on television for destabilising the tiered system, leading to a national lockdown despite low R rates in Shropshire. Kawczynski expressed dismay over the consequences for local businesses due to the lockdown and highlighted the importance of fiscal responsibility during the crisis.

  • Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

    The MP criticised the Government's response to the pandemic, highlighting failures in PPE stockpiling, test and trace system implementation, and social care support. She also raised concerns about the impact of increased VAT on PPE and the lack of sick pay for self-isolating social care workers.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    The MP thanked the Government for their efforts during the first wave and acknowledged the human toll of the pandemic, including loss of loved ones and limitations on funerals. He also highlighted economic challenges such as missed cancer diagnoses, mental health services cuts, and financial strain on minimum wage earners and self-employed individuals. The MP emphasized the importance of targeted measures based on transmission data rather than blanket bans on shops to preserve local high streets during Christmas.

  • Nigel Huddleston Con Mid Worcestershire

    Nigel Huddleston supports Drax's concerns about the negative impact of lockdown measures on personal freedoms and economic recovery.

  • Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op York Central

    She thanked Bob Seely for initiating the debate and criticised the Government's handling of PPE shortages, stating it led to unnecessary deaths among NHS workers. Ms Maskell expressed concern about the effectiveness of contact tracing and criticised delays in data processing, noting that only 50% of Serco's ability to deliver good contact tracing was effective. She highlighted local authorities' potential for higher accuracy with better support from the Government, advocating for immediate test results through local providers like universities and laboratories. Additionally, she suggested a public health approach by certifying workplaces as covid-secure to manage the pandemic without broad economic restrictions.

  • Charles Walker

    Acknowledged the minister's response and thanked her for her efforts.

  • Steven Baker Con Wycombe

    Praised the Government's response to the pandemic, highlighting the effectiveness of local NHS trusts, councils, and economic support schemes. Raised concerns about communication of complex data, expert advice, model improvement, and cost-benefit analysis. The MP intervened to discuss a meeting with Sir Jeremy Farrar, highlighting that leaving schools open adds 0.3 to 0.4 to the R rate and questioned the consistency of the Government's strategy in leaving schools open during lockdown.

  • Taiwo Owatemi Lab Coventry North West

    The MP expressed concern about the Government's handling of the second wave, citing a lack of timely action and highlighting that 1,320 healthcare workers have died from covid. She also mentioned the need for weekly testing in care homes and advocated for increased pay for nurses and social care staff to reflect their critical work.

  • Tom Hunt Lab Torbay and South Devon

    Tom Hunt expressed concerns about low compliance with NHS Test and Trace guidelines, the mental health impact of self-isolation for those in small living spaces, and the financial strain on individuals who have to isolate. He suggested that reducing isolation periods to seven days could improve compliance rates.

Government Response

Penny Mordaunt

Explained that the lockdown aims to prevent overwhelming NHS capacity and avoid deaths from COVID-19. Acknowledged economic costs but argued that not pursuing this strategy would result in higher overall costs. Mentioned the need for better data provision, devolution challenges, and future recovery planning.

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