Oral Answers to Questions

Christian Matheson Excerpts

Monday 4th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

I thank the hon. Gentleman and all colleagues who have put forward ideas and solutions, and shared good practice in the early weeks of this crisis. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman’s request will have been heard by our joint Minister, the Minister for Defence People and Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Moor View (Johnny Mercer). Of course, Defence has stepped up in every case where it has been asked to do so, and I am sure that it will support testing wherever it is taking place, as well as the pilots.

[Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab)]

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on large-scale testing and tracing for covid-19.

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on large-scale testing and tracing for covid-19.

[The Paymaster General (Penny Mordaunt) [V]]

Both the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Health Secretary attend a daily meeting with the Prime Minister. Testing and tracing are a part of the issues that are considered in detail at that meeting.

[Christian Matheson [V]]

It is clear that testing, tracing and tracking will be an essential part of our battle against coronavirus, and tech and IT will be required to support that. There have been concerns in the past few days about the allocation of these contracts, and perhaps about a bit of cronyism in Downing Street. What safeguards will the Minister put in place to ensure that applications, and the data that those applications use, will be safeguarded and used solely for the purpose of defeating coronavirus?

[Penny Mordaunt]

Clearly there are very strict protocols that surround any kind of procurement or pilot that might take place across any Government Department. Those protocols have given us confidence in the past, and there is no reason why they should not in the future. If the hon. Gentleman has concerns, he should raise them with the relevant Minister and certainly with the Cabinet Office, but those protocols are strong and have stood us in good stead; we have transparency around these issues.