Covid-19 Vaccinations

Lord Scriven Excerpts

Monday 8th November 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl)]

I really find this offensive; I am trying to make a point. I am about to get to my question. Many Members of the Lords do this, but I find that specific Members are always prevented from speaking out. I want to finish my point, which is to say that the health inequalities remain a deep scar among many communities and many sections of the community, where the constant bombardment of information has long since died. Will the Minister agree that we need to continue to mandate masks and ensure that there are meaningful—

[Lord Scriven (LD)]

Question!

[Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl)]

I have asked a question.

[Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, will the Minister agree that incredibly important environmental safeguards continue to be required to prevent children catching Covid and to empower parents with sufficient information so that they can make informed choices?

[Lord Scriven (LD)]

Outrageous.

[Baroness Uddin (Non-Afl)]

I hope you say that at other times.

[Lord Scriven (LD)]

I do; you went on for two minutes.

[Lord Kamall (Con)]

I thank the noble Baroness for her question, I think. To be fair, she has made a number of points, especially about disparities and inequalities. It is quite sad that there is low uptake of the vaccine in a number of communities. I know that the noble Baroness has done a lot of good work in the past in Tower Hamlets and other areas with minority communities.

The most important way we can tackle this issue is to encourage people to be vaccinated. We want to roll out the booster as quickly as possible and, sadly, too many people have still not taken their first and second vaccines yet. I know that noble Lords across the House have many contacts in many communities, so it is important, please, to come to me with suggestions and ideas. I have spoken to a number of noble Lords across the House about how to tackle this and how best to reach people who are hesitant and who may not trust authority, and encourage them to take the vaccine. I thank the noble Baroness for her question.