Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants who were issued fixed-penalty notices in relation to gatherings in Downing Street that broke the COVID-19 rules, are still working in any of the buildings in Downing Street.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government does not hold this information; this was an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police.
Notwithstanding, I would refer the noble peer to the report published by the Second Permanent Secretary of 25 May 2022, and the Government's response of 25 May 2022, Official Report, House of Commons, Cols. 295-297.
Asked by: Vicky Foxcroft (Labour - Lewisham North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to review the COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19 plan.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office “COVID-19 Response; Living with COVID-19” publication in February 2022 set out how England would move into a new phase of managing COVID-19. The Cabinet Office has no plans at present to review the strategy.
The UK Health Security Agency publishes a number of guidance documents in relation to living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19. All guidance is kept under review to ensure our response remains effective.
Asked by: Daniel Zeichner (Labour - Cambridge)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to learn from best practice used during (a) the Covid-19 vaccination programme and (b) the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The United Kingdom’s vaccination programme, from research and development of vaccines against COVID-19 to the deployment to over 93% of the adult population aged 12 years old and over (as of 7 June 2022), has been one of the most successful and effective initiatives in the history of UK science and public administration. The Government is taking steps to learn from the best practice used during this programme.
The Centre for Pandemic Preparedness within the UK Health Security Agency is working with partners in Government, academia and industry to understand the findings from evaluation of COVID-19 policies and exercises to identify lessons we can learn from for future incidents. We will also review the evidence base underpinning different policies and identify gaps.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with public health stakeholders on ventilation in publicly provided spaces to reduce transmission of covid-19; what assessment he has made of the risks for people who are immunocompromised of covid-19 transmission in publicly provided spaces that operate without ventilation; if he will take steps to provide the funding and logistical support necessary to ensure the safe ventilation of publicly provided spaces; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Representatives of NHS Test and Trace held a workshop on examining environmental innovations on 29 January 2021 where several technologies were presented by experts to an evaluation panel of public health stakeholders. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has ongoing discussions with a range of public health stakeholders on ventilation and other ways to ensure clean air in publicly provided spaces with regard to reducing transmission of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases.
Throughout the pandemic, Government advice and information has been informed by the best scientific evidence available from health agencies, academics, and experts as detailed in Living with COVID-19 guidance. People who are immunocompromised should follow Government advice from the Department and UKHSA for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk from COVID-19. This suggests continuing to wear a face covering in public spaces, practicing social distancing and reducing the amount of time spent in enclosed areas.
To address the risk of COVID-19 in public spaces, the Government has run public communications campaigns and published comprehensive business guidance on ventilation and fresh air. Government funding has also supported ventilation mitigations in education settings and enabled local authorities to use their allocations from the £60 million Adult Social Care Omicron Support Fund, to audit and improve fresh air in adult social care.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what further steps he will take to ensure that the UK has sufficient surveillance capability to identify and monitor potential variants of covid-19.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The United Kingdom has surveillance systems in place to detect the prevalence and spread of new COVID-19 variants. We continue to test symptomatic patients in hospitals using PCR tests, which can then be genomically sequenced to check for new variants. The Office for National Statistics’ COVID-19 Infection Survey and other surveillance studies, also check for variants.
The surveillance arrangements we recently put in place in response to the COVID-19 surge in China, and the risk of new variants emerging there, are an example of the UK’s ability to respond to new threats and play our part in global surveillance arrangements. We now test a sample of adult passengers arriving on direct flights from China into Heathrow airport, so we can sequence positive results.
The UK’s sequencing data is shared rapidly to help support global awareness and health security. In the last 90 days our sequencing programmes have enabled almost 50,000 uploads of sequenced COVID-19 samples onto the international GISAID database. The UK’s COVID-19 surveillance programme remains amongst the largest in the world.
These measures will ensure we can work with partners across the UK and globally to identify and respond if a dangerous variant of COVID-19 emerges.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the WTO General Council decision to extend the deadline for the TRIPS Council to reach agreement on waiving patent protections for covid-19 tests and treatments by six months, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effect of that decision on (a) the rate of covid-19 infections, (b) the rate of covid-19 related deaths in the global south and (c) the Government's commitments to promote equitable access to vaccines and global health security.
Answered by Greg Hands
The June 2022 WTO TRIPS Decision streamlines existing compulsory licensing processes for COVID-19 vaccines. It does not waive patents. The WTO General Council in December agreed to extend the deadline to determine whether to include therapeutics and diagnostics in this Decision, but no timeline was set.
HM Government recognises that COVID-19 remains a serious challenge and that we need to promote equitable and effective distribution of COVID-19 products. We continue to work with international partners to support and accelerate distribution globally.
Asked by: Baroness Debbonaire (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government's decision on Evusheld, what steps he is taking to help protect those people acutely vulnerable to covid-19.
Answered by Will Quince
The Government continues to make a range of antiviral treatment options available in the community for patients at highest risk of COVID-19 infection. For those in this cohort who test positive for the virus, antiviral treatments can be accessed through COVID Medicines Delivery Units. Patients identified as potentially eligible for antiviral treatments can also order lateral flow device tests from GOV.UK or NHS 111.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support the Government is providing to (a) vulnerable and (b) immunosuppressed people to protect themselves from covid-19 in winter 2022-23.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
The autumn COVID-19 booster vaccination campaign aims to increase immunity in those at higher risk of severe infection during winter 2022/23. The booster dose is being offered to individuals aged 50 years old and over, residents and staff in care homes for older adults, frontline health and social care workers, unpaid carers, individuals aged five to 49 years old in clinical risk groups and household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed. Those who are at higher risk from COVID-19 due to their immune system continue to have priority access to therapeutic and antiviral treatments.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to support older people who lost their jobs as a result of shielding during the Covid-19 pandemic with (a) finances (b) employment opportunities and (c) access to training.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Government recognises the challenges faced by some aged 50 and over. This is why we are providing over £20m over the next three years for an enhanced offer for people aged 50 and over to remain in and return to work.
Eligible older job seekers on Universal Credit will receive more intensive, tailored support during the first nine months of their claim, on top of the support that work coaches offer all claimants on skills provision and job search support.
37 full-time 50 PLUS Champions are now in every JCP district across Great Britain, to upskill Work Coaches in supporting over 50s return to work.
The Government is investing in re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities to make sure adults, at any age, can upskill to reach their potential, transforming lives and delivering on the National Skills Fund commitment. As part of this investment, we have introduced the Free Courses for Jobs scheme, which enables learners without a level 3 qualification (or learners with any qualification level but earning below the National Living Wage) to gain a qualification free.
In addition, learners who want to upskill in their role, are looking for work or are changing career can take part in Skills Bootcamps. Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast track to an interview with an employer. Skills Bootcamps have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers.
The Government is committed to providing financial support for those who are unable to work or who are on a low income. More information can be found at Benefits - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Your Party - Coventry South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) control the numbers of covid-19 cases, (b) protect people vulnerable to covid-19, (c) support people shielding and (d) ensure that people of all incomes are able to access lateral flow tests in winter 2022.
Answered by Neil O'Brien - Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development)
‘COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19’, published in February, set out how COVID-19 will be managed in the same way as other respiratory viruses. The vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments has ensured a much lower risk of severe illness or hospitalisation.
We have continued to provide free symptomatic testing to those at highest risk and symptomatic testing during periods of high prevalence. The shielding scheme ended in 2021 and our guidance advises those previously considered as clinically extremely vulnerable to manage their risk as appropriate. Free lateral flow device tests are provided to those at greatest risk of serious illness from COVID-19, while testing kits are also available from retailers.