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3,496 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThe Chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee precisely sets out our goal. Some countries—not only in the far east but closer to home—have seen a rise in cases, especially…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI will certainly answer the questions posed by the hon. Gentleman, but as for his proposal to dismantle the testing system that we have built so painstakingly over the past six…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWith permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on coronavirus. As a country, we have made huge strides in our fight against this invisible killer. Today’s…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI will respond right away. I am very glad that the hon. Lady has raised this issue. It is something that I have been doing a huge amount of work on, along with the Under-Secretary…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWe are looking at the asymptomatic testing of parts of the population where the virus is rife. Testing roll-out is about the prioritisation of what can be done with the capacity…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWe are doing a huge amount of work on the very issue that the hon. Gentleman raises. Ultimately, when students are off campus they are citizens like everyone else—hence the focus…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThis is another important question about how we can provide support locally, especially in the west midlands, where it is so important, especially with cases rising, not only that…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWe look at the issue of restrictions in Halifax every week. Calderdale has seen a fall in the number of cases; it is an example of a local lockdown being effective. I was really…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy hon. Friend is exactly right—we are going as fast as we can. I recognise the importance of this. There was spare capacity earlier in the summer. We have maintained the…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThe hon. Gentleman raises a point that I know the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is looking at. Of course, returning to a covid-secure setting is…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThat is spot on. The logic that we have seen repeated in country after country is that a sharp rise among younger people leads inexorably to a rise in the number of…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWe are absolutely putting more resources into that local end of the contact tracing, but I stress that it is one system. I think the right hon. Gentleman has made the same…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI entirely understand the point, and I can see the argument that is being made. The challenge is, since lab capacity is what we need more of, that if we take more swabs locally…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI understand why grandparents in Bury and across the country want to see that happen. The challenge is that the support bubbles are there primarily so that when people are living…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWell, of course I am improving the public health responses by bringing together different organisations. I am not sure that the hon. Lady is doing anything other than— […08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy right hon. Friend asks an important question, and the first answer is that there is a lag between people catching the disease and the statistics for new cases and those who…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateWe are going to have the biggest flu vaccination programme in history. I think the hon. Gentleman simply has not taken into account the action that was taken to protect the NHS in…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI regret the tone of the question. I think it is far better for everybody if we all work together. I know the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Bootle (Peter Dowd) seem to have…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateIt is so important that we explain to everybody that they have a responsibility for “hands, face and space”—for their social distancing. The two critical messages for younger…08 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateI am very happy to look at this point. Of course, we do have to verify the identity of people who are asking for home testing kits, and there have to be protections against fraud,…08 Sept 2020