Contributions
3,496 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI cannot say any more than I have already said. We take a cautious approach to travel because of the risk of new variants, which could undermine the whole thing. We have a…07 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWe have brought in this incredibly strong travel regime, including the need for all travellers to be tested, and calls and home visits to those quarantining at home. That is based…07 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdatePart of the purpose of the international testing regime is to get genetic sequences to spot variants, which we cannot do from a lateral flow test. That is the literal answer to my…07 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateOn the latter point, I am very happy to look at how the case of my right hon. Friend’s constituent Laura Wilde can fit with the exemptions that already apply for travel for…07 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThis incredibly important subject is close to my heart too, and perhaps we can work with the hon. Gentleman, with his personal experience of long covid over such a period, to…07 Jun 2021HANSARDHealth and Social CareWhat I would say to the people of Bolton is that they have again risen to this challenge. The number of vaccinations happening in Bolton right now is phenomenal—tens of thousands…07 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateYes, I agree with my hon. Friend. He puts it well. This so-called glossary appeared on the NHS website. I have raised it with the NHS and it has been taken down.07 Jun 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateYes, of course, as part of step 3, those activities were reopened for school-based groups. I absolutely take the point that my hon. Friend is making. That is of course part of…07 Jun 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessI am absolutely delighted my hon. Friend has had his first jab; I did not know he was old enough yet. It is very important that you take decisions in government based on the…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessI do not recognise those figures, but I do recognise the enormous challenge of keeping people safe in care homes at the height of a pandemic in unprecedented circumstances. The…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessYes, of course. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman, like me, will welcome the fact that this morning Northern Ireland has been able to open up vaccination to all adults over the…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessI have answered this question many times, and the challenge is that we had to build the testing capacity. At that time, of course I was focused on protecting people in care homes…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessThere are issues around Bolton in my red box very regularly, Mr Speaker. I was waiting on tenterhooks to find out whether, as well as his constituent being a fan, my hon. Friend…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessWhat we have done to handle this coronavirus pandemic has been unprecedented in modern times. Throughout, we have been straight with people and this House about the challenges…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessThe allegations that were put yesterday and repeated by the right hon. Gentleman are serious, and I welcome the opportunity to come to the House to put formally on the record that…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessYes, those are common objectives. The way my right hon. Friend puts it is absolutely spot on. I would be delighted to meet him and west midlands leaders to ensure we can roll out…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessIt is true that the Indian variant is spreading across the country, and estimates vary as to what proportion of new cases each day involve that variant first identified in India,…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessAs I said, we have answered this question many times before. What I would add to those answers is that it is another example of constantly learning about the virus. As we learned…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessThe last point is very tempting, but I will leave it to the independent regulator to make that decision and determine its timing—but we are all very excited about the progress of…27 May 2021HANSARD Covid-19: Government Handling and PreparednessI am very grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I will continue to compliment him while I think of how to respond. The honest truth is that, from the start, I have been…27 May 2021