Contributions
2,941 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy noble friend is entirely right to ask about the exact guidance. I will be clear: everyone in the country is being asked to cut out non-essential social intercourse and to work…16 Mar 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThe Government are under no illusions about the size of the challenge. The package announced in the Budget was an initial commitment. Whatever funds are needed will be made…16 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusThe noble Lord asks a question that is on the minds of a lot of people who have been reading into the subject. The concern of the CMO is that if you bring intense social behaviour…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusI reassure the noble Lord that this is a whole-health family challenge. I thank all my colleagues, in every part of the NHS, PHE and all the arms-length bodies, who have been…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusMy Lords, not wishing to return to question of deep cleaning too many times, I just reassure the noble Lord that the published guidance is very clear. It says that this virus can…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusI thank my noble friend for his question on deep cleaning. I reassure him that no one is suggesting that the best efforts of any employer to protect the welfare of their staff is…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusThe noble Baroness is entirely right to ask about a specific group. As yet, I do not have a clear answer on the exact demographic that she describes, but I reassure her that our…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusMy Lords, I reassure the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, that local authorities will undoubtedly provide a huge amount of the response to the coronavirus, not only in social care but…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusThe supply of medicines is of concern. We have built substantial stockpiles of all medicines that we feel we need. We are working through what the implications of President…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusThe right reverend Prelate is entirely right to raise the question of prisons. Prisons provide an enormous challenge when it comes to the virus. The idea of prisoners living in…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusThe noble Lord’s point has been raised with me by staff of the Palace, who are concerned about this. It is not for me, I am afraid, to answer this question; it is for the officers…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusMy Lords, I shall repeat a Statement made by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State yesterday evening in the other place on coronavirus. In the repeat, I will use the…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusMy Lords, I thank the noble Baronesses for those excellent questions. I will take them at some pace, because there were a lot of extremely worthwhile questions and I will try to…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusThe noble and learned Lord asks a very reasonable question. I reassure him that the Leader of the House will make a Statement to that effect and she will outline the schedule for…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusI thank my noble friend for those questions. In terms of funding, the Treasury has provided immediately a £5 billion contingency fund to ensure that not only the NHS but local…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusThe recruitment of recently retired staff requires some changes to legislation, which are being studied at the moment. We look forward to bringing them to the House in the near…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCoronavirusMy noble friend clearly feels passionately about the subject. I am not personally in a position to provide the reassurance he seeks, but I will try to find the information for…12 Mar 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Deep CleaningThe noble Lord is entirely right that cleaning is important, but the kind of deep cleaning protocols he described are not those recommended by the CMO at this stage of the…11 Mar 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Deep CleaningThe CMO has been very clear on this important point, and I thank the noble Baroness for making it. The virus is washable. Sanitisers, cold water and soap work, but undoubtedly,…11 Mar 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Deep CleaningMy noble friend is quite right that measures require preparation. This Government are determined not to be caught on the hoof. In his public statements on Monday the CMO was clear…11 Mar 2020