Covid-19

Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Matt Hancock

Monday 16th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

Yes. We are keen to see further production of hand sanitiser. There are not many hand sanitiser production plants in the UK, and I would add that soap is better than hand sanitiser. Nevertheless, it is something we are working on.

[Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab)]

Will the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care please speak to his right hon. Friend the Environment Secretary about what more can be done to guarantee essential food supplies to those who are symptomatic and self-isolating? In the absence of the Health Secretary’s national volunteering scheme, which is not yet in operation—at least, not in my part of south-east London—people were phoning me over the weekend to say that they cannot get essential home deliveries. They have been cancelled and they cannot get them for three weeks. They have no friends or family around and they are too sick to go out.

[Matt Hancock]

I talk to the Environment Secretary almost daily about this issue. It is obviously incredibly important, and it is important that within communities people help each other to be able to get essential supplies.

Coronavirus

Debate between Matthew Pennycook and Matt Hancock

Wednesday 11th March 2020 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

Absolutely. I agree very much with the hon. Lady about the importance of sign language and the signing of this session. I thank the House authorities for arranging it.

Yes, new guidance on care homes will be put out this week. If the hon. Lady passes on the details of her individual case to the Minister for Care, I am sure that my hon. Friend will be happy to look at it.

[Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab)]

Earlier today, I was contacted by a constituent who flew back from northern Italy yesterday evening. He told me that, on landing, there was a complete lack of information and no staff were on hand to offer any guidance. He proceeded to watch most people from that flight spill on to public transport.

I fully agree with the Secretary of State’s advice that we should follow the medical science, but, whether they have symptoms or not, people arriving back on flights from category 1 countries should not be met with that situation.

[Matt Hancock]

Today we have upgraded the response to flights coming back from Italy. I understand some of the concerns raised earlier in the week. We have put an awful lot of effort in with the Department for Transport, the Border Force and the airports authorities themselves— I pay tribute to them all—to address exactly the concerns that the hon. Gentleman raises.