Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Robinson Excerpts

Tuesday 1st September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Sam Tarry (Ilford South) (Lab)]

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of NHS Test and Trace.

[Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con)]

What recent assessment his Department has made of the reach of NHS Test and Trace.

[Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con)]

What recent assessment his Department has made of the reach of NHS Test and Trace.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matt Hancock]

Unlike the question, we will have a serious approach to this. I will absolutely defend to all ends the teams who work on our NHS test and trace system, the private sector companies without which this would be impossible and the civil servants who are working day and night to make this happen. I will not have disparaging remarks about civil servants, who have done so much during this pandemic, made in this House by the hon. Gentleman. I do not think he was listening to my answer, because the latest week’s data show that 84.3% of contacts were reached and asked to self-isolate where contact details were provided.

[Mary Robinson]

Cheadle residents welcome the release of the intervention measures that will take place tomorrow and the more local approach to this. Effective test and trace has been a vital part of getting us to this position and keeping the rates low. To continue with that, will the Secretary of State consider devolving the testing of cases to local authorities such as Stockport, which has a 99% rate of success?

[Matt Hancock]

My hon. Friend has played a very important role, and I pay tribute to her and her community for playing a role in the success of the local action that we had to take in Stockport and other parts of Greater Manchester, which meant that we were able to release the measures last week. I am grateful for her work, the work of her council and other local leaders and, most importantly, the people of Stockport, who have worked hard and followed the rules, and the case rate is coming down. She is right that the integration of a national system that can move fast at scale and a local system, which can often reach more contacts because there are boots on the ground and people who know the communities inside out, is critical.