Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 12 May 2021
Covid-19 Update
"I can tell the Prime Minister that other venues are available and that the Forest of Dean would be fantastically keen to offer itself as a place for outdoor education for children across the United Kingdom.
I welcome what the Prime Minister said about being able to say more at …..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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Written Question
Tuesday 23rd March 2021
Asked by:
Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason it was not possible to respond to Question 167836 tabled by the hon. Member for Forest of Dean by the named day deadline.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I apologise for the delay in responding to the issues raised by the Rt Hon. Member. I refer him to the answer given to PQ 167836 on 23 March 2021.
Written Question
Tuesday 23rd March 2021
Asked by:
Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 118 of the Government's Covid-19 Response - Spring 2021 Command Paper CP398, published in February 2021, what premises are able to be used to hold (a) weddings, (b) wedding receptions and (c) commemorative events including wakes.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Guidance for small marriages and civil partnerships was published on 22 March and can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships#wedding-and-civil-partnership-ceremony-venues
We recognise that any restrictions on wedding venues may be disappointing for those planning such events, but we have to take necessary steps to limit transmission of COVID-19. This includes the closure of some settings and restrictions on social contact, including wedding and civil partnership ceremonies. By their very nature, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are events that bring families and friends together, making them particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. We appreciate the sacrifices people have had to make across the COVID-19 pandemic and we do not wish to keep any restrictions in place longer than we need to.
In the COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021, the Government has set out the gradual and cautious approach to reopening in England, guided by science and the data, including the staged return of weddings and civil partnerships, as well as sporting events.
In order to inform the pace and sequencing of the roadmap, the Government commissioned advice and modelling from SAGE and its sub-groups. Scientific evidence supporting the government response to coronavirus is regularly published here - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 03 Mar 2021
Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation
"The first thing I want to say, reflecting on the Chancellor’s excellent Budget speech, is that in an emergency—that is what we have faced over the past year—it is right for the state to use its fiscal firepower to support the people of our country and protect jobs and livelihoods. …..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Feb 2021
Covid-19: Road Map
"First, I thank the Prime Minister for the measures to get our children back to school on 8 March, which is very welcome—it is something we have called for, and I think he should be congratulated on that—and also for the speed of the vaccine roll-out. Could I just press …..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 13 Jan 2021
Northern Ireland Protocol: Disruption to Trade
"Can I ask the Minister about the issues raised by a number of Members about grace periods? How will he assess whether he thinks things are in a good enough state for him to press for those grace periods to be extended, which a number of Members have called for? …..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 01 Dec 2020
Public Health
"Covid is a very serious disease, and I take it very seriously, as I do the pressures on our national health service. It is disappointing that some people, when faced with different arguments or questions, always either accuse those of us who have a different view, pretending that we want …..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 23 Nov 2020
Covid-19: Winter Plan
"I thank the Prime Minister for agreeing to meet me and my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr Baker) on behalf of 70 colleagues who wrote to him at the weekend, and we look forward to discussing that matter in more detail later. Many hon. Members will hold their …..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 04 Nov 2020
Public Health
"Will my right hon. Friend give way?..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 04 Nov 2020
Public Health
"I have listened carefully to the argument and looked at the data very carefully. What I am troubled by—when I have looked at the basis on which the modelling has been done, both in terms of SAGE and the NHS—is that the modelling does not take into account the effect …..."Lord Harper - View Speech
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