Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the higher mortality rates from covid-19 reported by the Office for National Statistics among disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

We know that many people with long standing, limiting illnesses or health conditions are at higher risk of poorer outcomes from COVID-19.

This provisional analysis suggests that this is the case for some disabled people. We are continuing to review all the available evidence and commissioning new research to better understand the specific impact of COVID-19 on disabled people. This will inform future policy development and what practical measures we can take to better protect disabled people.