Vaccination: Condition of Deployment

Huw Merriman Excerpts

Monday 31st January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

This Government will always listen to the evidence and be guided by it, as they have been today.

[Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

Unlike a number of my colleagues here, I did actually vote in favour of these measures back in December. I did so because I felt that it was important that those going into hospital had the reassurance that those caring for them were fully protected. I understand the Secretary of State’s point that the matter has now changed, but I regret that that is so, because I still feel that my vote was the correct one. May I ask my right hon. Friend this specific question just to assist me to get to the right place with him? He mentions that he asked for fresh advice from the health regulators, and no doubt they advised that this was no longer proportionate in these changed circumstances. Did that precipitate a change in the legal position—that being one of the limbs for judicial review—which means that there is a legal requirement for our having to change course as well?