Contributions
3,496 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresI am sure that Treasury Ministers will have heard the hon. Gentleman’s suggestion, but we do not need such a scheme now, of course, because the full furlough scheme is in…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresLike anybody who has a heart, I yearn for grandparents to be able to see their grandchildren. My own children saw their grandmother at a social distance, appropriately, rigorously…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that there has been very encouraging progress, and all the significant data point in the same direction, which is downwards. That is incredibly…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresAbsolutely; I work closely with the Scottish Government to do everything we can so that they can increase their testing capacity. Part of the testing programme, as the hon. Lady…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresYes, absolutely. As I tried to say in my opening statement, R is one of many measures that we need to look at. The number of new infections—the level of new infections as opposed…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresI am afraid that I do not recognise that picture at all. The local directors of public health have been heavily engaged in addressing local outbreaks throughout this pandemic. In…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresThe hon. Gentleman may shake his head, but if he asks the same question, he is going to get the same answer.08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresI have already answered all those questions. The estimate from the scientists, taking into account all the evidence, is that R is below 1.08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresThat is right. I set out some of the evidence in my statement. It is important that we look at the overall base of evidence and take scientific advice on that. There are 10 models…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresThat is an incredibly important point, because being able to get a vaccine everywhere around the world is incredibly important to us here at home. Of course, our top priority is…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresYes, of course, that is taken into account in the clinical decision on the order of priority for testing. My right hon Friend makes a very important point that I will ensure is…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresAs soon as is practical.08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresOf course it is important to ensure that people are fully informed about the reasons why we may need to take action in a particular local area, and that is an important part of…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresNo, I do not think that has anything to do with it. The most important thing is that people follow the social distancing rules, and that should apply even if they have a strong…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresI thank my hon. Friend for that question. It is incredibly important that people follow the social distancing rules. Where the demonstrations that we saw over the weekend did not…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresWe are continuing with the plan that we have, which is cautious, takes a safety-first approach and is based on all the information, not just, as the hon. Lady rightly pointed out,…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresI do not want to see the R number go above 1. I spoke to Professor Edmunds at the weekend, as it happens. He said, quite rightly, that a cautious approach is needed, but there is…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresI do, absolutely. It is particularly a mistake to look at just one model rather than the overall assessment of R in each part of the country, which is assessed to be below 1 in…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresI am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for that question and for the manner in which he asks it. We have always said that we are prepared to reintroduce measures if that is…08 Jun 2020HANSARD Covid-19: R Rate and Lockdown MeasuresAbsolutely. Throughout this period we have based our decisions on the science and scientific advice, taking into account all considerations. Scientific advice, for instance from…08 Jun 2020