Covid-19: Ethnic Minority Disparities Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Department for International Trade

Covid-19: Ethnic Minority Disparities

Lord Bishop of St Albans Excerpts
Tuesday 2nd March 2021

(3 years, 8 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Berridge Portrait Baroness Berridge (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, being relatively local to Leicester in origin, I pay tribute to the people of Leicester, who I think have endured the longest period of restrictions of any part of the country. One of the few pieces of good news for the House over recent weeks has been the FE and skills White Paper and the focus on higher technical qualifications. We are focused on giving skills to people, particularly in low-income jobs, through the lifelong learning entitlement so that while earning they can train themselves up to get better-paid and better-quality work. I will take away the specific idea of a pilot to the Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills.

Lord Bishop of St Albans Portrait The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]
- Hansard - -

What are Her Majesty’s Government doing to engage with the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, who are often left out of these discussions, to raise awareness of the positive vaccination process that is available?

Baroness Berridge Portrait Baroness Berridge (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, the right reverent Prelate is correct that this marginalised community is often left out. My noble friend Lord Greenhalgh, who is in the House, is leading a specific initiative out of MHCLG on this community. We now have data on the level of take-up of the vaccine in particular communities. The local directors of public health, who are the best people to know how many vaccines have been offered and how many have been taken up on the ground, should have the detailed information in the coming weeks in order to focus on that particular community in their locality.