Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor, together with the charitable sector and wider civil society, the adverse short- and long-term consequences of the (1) COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) Coronavirus Act 2020.

We are doing everything we can to tackle the pandemic and mitigate its impact. We are mobilising every element of Government to defend our people and our country.

On Wednesday 25 March, the Coronavirus Bill 2020 was given Royal Assent. An impact assessment and Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) assessment were conducted in relation to the provisions contained in the Coronavirus Act. The PSED requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities, including those with protected characteristics. We will continue to consider the impacts on people with protected characteristics when considering how to use powers contained in the Act.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is proactively engaging across the charity sector to maintain a complete picture of the impact of COVID-19 and is working to identify the additional support charities require through this time of financial instability. On 8 April 2020 the Government pledged £750 million to ensure charities can continue their vital work supporting the country during the COVID-19 outbreak.