Covid-19

Debate between Claudia Webbe and Matt Hancock

Monday 16th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

Yes, my right hon. Friend is absolutely right.

[Claudia Webbe (Leicester East) (Lab)]

The Spanish Government recently announced sweeping measures to take over private healthcare and to requisition products such as ventilators, testers and, indeed, facemasks. We have heard that, in the UK, the Prime Minister has ordered the NHS to acquire resources from the private health system to the tune of something like £2.4 million today. Will the Secretary of State outline measures that the Government will take to ensure that we put public health and public safety before private profit?

Coronavirus

Debate between Claudia Webbe and Matt Hancock

Wednesday 11th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

The four NHSs are also working together. I discussed this with Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, today. That cross-border work is, of course, important, and it is something that my opposite number in the Welsh Government has raised. As a Chester boy, I get the point, and I will make sure that we keep that level of co-ordination, as well as the co-ordination at the point of the chief medical officer.

May I answer an earlier question better than I did before, Mr Deputy Speaker? My hon. Friend the Member for Dudley South (Mike Wood) asked whether GPs were getting their protective equipment. We have rolled out protective equipment to almost 100% of GP surgeries now.

[Claudia Webbe (Leicester East) (Lab)]

Earlier, the Government, through the Treasury, announced a package of support for local authorities to protect the vulnerable during the coronavirus outbreak. Does the Secretary of State agree that a proportion of this hardship fund should be allocated to local welfare provision so that support can be given to those who are most vulnerable and facing financial hardship?

[Matt Hancock]

Yes. That is a really important point, and that will be part of the provision.