Covid-19 Update

Nigel Evans Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

In the short term, we have seen a rise in demand for testing, and the capacity—the supply—has been increasing too. We had some short-term problems with contracts; before the summer, I came to the House to describe the problem with a particular contract to do with swabs and the cleanliness of the swabs. The bigger challenge is to make sure that capacity stays ahead of demand, and when demand has gone up sharply, we need to make sure that capacity expands. There are two ways of doing that. The first is more expansion of the current technology, which we are doing, both within the NHS, as the Scottish National party spokesperson correctly called for, and by using more private sector capacity—the combination of the two. The second, where we can really break through this, is with the new generation of tests, which are much, much easier, much better value for money and easier for people to use. The combination of trying to drive up capacity in the existing system, as we have been doing for months and months, and then bringing onstream these innovative new tests is what we are trying to pull off.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

The call list has the party of Mr Alyn Smith wrong—he is from the SNP.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matt Hancock]

Yes, I absolutely will. The UK Government and the Welsh Government working together is incredibly important. We have weekly calls, and Vaughan Gething and I speak and are in contact regularly. I support the action that he has had to take, as I say, with a heavy heart, but it is necessary action. My message to the people of Caerphilly, who are so ably represented in this House, is that this action and following the stricter local rules are absolutely critical to getting this virus under control locally, to protecting people themselves and to protecting their loved ones.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

I would like to thank the Secretary of State for his statement today.

Before I take the point of order from Maria Miller, I ask those leaving the Chamber to please do so with care and in a socially distanced way.

Virtual participation in proceedings concluded (Order, 4 June.)