Contributions
3,496 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19The measures on shielding are specifically for those who have significant health conditions and will be contacted by the NHS. They are not for the generality of over-70s who are…16 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThis is supposed to be an easy question, but actually my right hon. Friend is completely wrong. I would rather have the advice. I would rather go through 100 ideas, 99 of which we…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is leading the work with the supermarkets now, so I will ensure that it gets that message and takes that up.11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusAbsolutely. This is right at the top of the agenda; tackling fake news is incredibly important. The major social media platforms and search engines have already risen to this task…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusWe are not there yet, but we are moving towards it. That is what the chief medical officer set out in the press conference on Monday, in part for exactly the reasons the hon.…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusI have heard some of the noises off. I merely encourage everybody to base their decisions and judgments on science, rather than politics.11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusYes, of course. The funding needs for social care, as for the NHS, over the weeks and months to come are not yet clear, so the Chancellor set out an envelope of up to £5 billion…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThis is an important consideration. I discuss it regularly with the Education Secretary and the Minister for School Standards. We are keeping the matter under review. Obviously,…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusToday we have upgraded the response to flights coming back from Italy. I understand some of the concerns raised earlier in the week. We have put an awful lot of effort in with the…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusAbsolutely. I agree very much with the hon. Lady about the importance of sign language and the signing of this session. I thank the House authorities for arranging it. Yes, new…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThere will of course be a big voluntary effort should there be staff shortfalls right across public service. People who volunteer need to be asked to do tasks that fit their…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThis is really important and quite difficult. Our general approach is that people who become ill should stay where they are and be treated in the country in which they find…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusYes, of course, because I expect this crisis to last for less than a year. I have been absolutely clear that the allocations will increase in real terms, so everyone can plan on…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThat is incredibly important, and we have to keep reiterating it, even though we may have heard it a thousand times—I may have said it even more than that. Although there is a…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThe four NHSs are also working together. I discussed this with Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, today. That cross-border work is, of course, important, and it is…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusI hope that the decision to keep Parliament open makes it clear that the institutions that are fundamental to our way of life in this country will continue through this virus. We…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusFirst, the Leader of the House, Mr Speaker and the House of Commons Commission, advised by Public Health England, are best placed to come forward with guidance on the details of…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThis is a really important point that I met the NHS to discuss specifically today. It is critical that we ensure that discharges are as fast as possible. That is important in…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusThis afternoon, the World Health Organisation declared coronavirus a global pandemic. I have spoken to the Leader of the House, and we have had discussions, Mr Speaker, and we…11 Mar 2020HANSARD CoronavirusI want to make two comments in response to my right hon. Friend. First, I want slightly to correct the point about the deputy chief medical officer, who said that in the next…11 Mar 2020