Covid-19

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Thursday 6th January 2022 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ashton of Hyde (Con)]

My Lords, we have not had anyone from the non-affiliated Benches yet.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

They are all non-affiliated.

[Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, there is a slight panic in the House about the non-affiliated. I am glad to hear a new emphasis that lockdown is not cost-free, but that devastating toll is present with these restrictions too. Can the Minister comment on whether there is an impact assessment on, for example, working from home guidance and effectively closing down city and town centres and the impact that this has on jobs and livelihoods for the people who work there? On the pressures on the NHS, is there more detailed evidence of how many people are actively being hospitalised by this new variant of Covid rather than being in hospital already and testing positive for it? That is not at all clear in the Statement but it makes a difference as to how frightened people might be of it.