Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the report published by Public Health England on 2 June 2020 entitled COVID-19: review of disparities in risks and outcomes, what cross-departmental steps the Government plans to take to reduce the disproportionate effect of the covid-19 outbreak on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

As Minister for Equalities, I will be working with the Race Disparity Unit and the Department for Health and Social Care to carry forward work to identify and fill the gaps in PHE’s review; and work across government to take appropriate steps to mitigate disparities identified. The terms of reference for this work, which include quarterly updates to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on progress, were published on GOV.UK on 4 June.