Contributions
1,148 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateWith permission, I would like to make a statement on the pandemic. Today marks an important milestone in our fight against this virus as we take step 4 on our road map. It is a…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateThe right hon. Gentleman began well but ended with petty politics. However, I will address the issue of the testing trials over a number of days, which began, I think, around…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI am grateful to my hon. Friend, who asks an important question. I certainly take that feedback very seriously and will take it back to the team to ensure that we get the most…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateThe hon. Gentleman raises a number of important questions. Pfizer supply remains consistent, and we have every confidence that the manufacturer will continue to deliver, as it has…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his two excellent questions—rather than one—which I shall try to address in reverse. He will have heard the announcement in my statement…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateWe and the devolved Administrations have accepted the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to vaccinate vulnerable children, those children who live with…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that we take this step confidently but cautiously. I remind the House that this is probably the most infectious respiratory virus known to…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateThe hon. Gentleman attends the Friday briefings that I offer colleagues. He is absolutely right. Last week, Public Health England published some encouraging real-world data that…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateMy right hon. Friend is right that there is no such thing as a wrong batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the United Kingdom. Our independent regulator regulates all…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateThe vaccination programme could in no way have delivered the extraordinary uptake without the backbone being NHS doctors, nurses and pharmacists, working with our armed forces,…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateAnd volunteers and the police. The hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) reminds us all of the role that policemen and women played in ensuring that the vaccination roll-out…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI am very grateful to my right hon. Friend, who is always diligent in his questioning, including on the Friday calls, on behalf of his constituents. He raises a really important…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI thank my hon. Friend for his excellent question; I agree. I remember that when I took on the role of vaccines Minister in November, I explained to the House and the country that…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI thank the hon. Member for that thoughtful question. He is absolutely right: there are about 5.3 million people waiting for treatment. He is also right that we have to make sure…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question. The vaccination rates in the United Kingdom have been incredibly high. We are at 88% with the first dose and 68% with double…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI am grateful to the hon. Member, who is always wonderfully complimentary and polite. I am grateful for his compliments and I will take them back to the team. We have…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI thank my hon. Friend for his excellent question, as always. Most restrictions have been lifted and many people have now been vaccinated, but it is still possible to catch and…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI am grateful for the hon. Lady’s question. On the PCR testing capacity, it is 600,000 per day. I looked at the data this morning for yesterday, and I think just about half of…19 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his excellent question. As I mentioned in my statement, an impact statement has been published today, and a full impact assessment will be…19 Jul 2021HANSARDPatient Transport: VATWhile the Department of Health and Social Care takes a keen interest in any tax situation that may affect patients, any discussions surrounding the VAT treatment of patient…13 Jul 2021