Covid-19 Secure Marshals

Viscount Waverley Excerpts
Tuesday 15th September 2020

(3 years, 7 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Viscount Waverley Portrait Viscount Waverley (CB) [V]
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My Lords, given that, with the acquiescence of the Government, the application of the European Regional Development Fund specifically prohibited local authorities from recruiting Covid marshals, what financial support will be given to local authorities to cover the cost of hiring, training and equipping these marshals? What mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that marshals are respectful, act with integrity, and uphold human rights as well as, importantly, the rule of law?

Lord Greenhalgh Portrait Lord Greenhalgh (Con)
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My Lords, I point out that the Government have provided local authorities with an unprecedented level of funding—some £3.7 billion in unring-fenced funding—to respond to the pandemic. I have already stated that a further announcement will be made on specific funding for marshals and, of course, we will be working with local authorities on the training required for them.