Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, if he will take steps to ensure that hon. Members will be able to participate in proceedings in a fully socially distanced area of the Chamber in which hon. Members will also be required to wear face coverings after 19 July 2021.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
On Monday 19 July 2021, the majority of legal restrictions in England were removed and people are now expected to protect themselves and others through informed choice. Guidance on social distancing and mask wearing in the House of Commons are matters for the House authorities and the Commission to agree, rather than the Government and Mr Speaker has written to Members to encourage them to wear a face covering when in the Chamber. Prayer cards to reserve seats have also been reinstated, Erskine May part one, paragraph 6.51 states:
In the Commons no place is allotted to any Member, but by custom the front bench on the right hand of the Chair (called the Treasury bench or government front bench) is appropriated for the members of the administration. The front bench on the opposite side, though other Members occasionally sit there, is reserved by convention for the leading members of the Opposition. It is not uncommon for senior Members who are in the habit of attending in one place to be allowed to occupy it as a matter of courtesy.
Members who have no such claim to a seat must be present at prayers if they wish to secure the right to a particular seat until the rising of the House (Standing Order Nos 7 and 8). Members may leave cards upon seats to indicate that they intend to attend prayers (and so secure seats for the remainder of the sitting). These ‘prayer cards’ are dated and must be obtained personally by the Member who wishes to use them from an attendant who is on duty in the House for that purpose from 8 am until the House meets.
The House has already agreed that the arrangements for proxy voting and virtual participation in the Chamber, Westminster Hall and committees should remain in place until the House rises for the summer recess.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what steps he plans to take to protect hon. Members who have not yet received their second covid-19 vaccine and are potentially at risk of infection if social distancing and mask wearing is not observed in the Commons Chamber.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
On Monday 19 July 2021, the majority of legal restrictions in England were removed and people are now expected to protect themselves and others through informed choice. I encourage all adults to take up the offer of two vaccine doses, to protect themselves and others against covid. Guidance on social distancing and mask wearing in the House of Commons are matters for the House authorities and the Commission to agree, rather than the Government and Mr Speaker has written to Members to encourage them to wear a face covering when in the Chamber. The House has already agreed that arrangements for proxy voting and virtual participation in the Chamber, Westminster Hall and committees should remain in place until the House rises for the summer recess.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question
To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the design of the proposed temporary chamber in Richmond House to facilitate social distancing measures in the event of future coronavirus outbreaks.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The design for Richmond House as a temporary Commons Chamber has been paused. The House of Commons Commission has taken the decision to use Richmond House as temporary accommodation for Members and their staff.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question
To ask the hon. Member representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of reconstructing the Commons Chamber to facilitate social distancing in the event of future coronavirus outbreaks.
Answered by Pete Wishart
Strategic steers have been provided to the Sponsor Body by the management boards at the beginning of lockdown around longer-term work that may be required. These made reference to future coronavirus outbreaks or similar events, but further work is still required. The strategic review is seeking to validate the underlying assumptions.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission made of the risk of covid-19 spreading from hon. Members touching the despatch boxes and table during the physical voting on 2 June 2020; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The House authorities on behalf of the Commission has carried out all risk assessments as required under the Working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance. This identifies the key risks and control measures which have been introduced to allow people to work safely on the parliamentary estate during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Through the development of cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures the risk from touching any surface should be minimised and measures have been put in place to ensure hand washing facilities and / or hand sanitiser is available across the estate. These have also been placed at both entry points to the chamber.
Enhanced cleaning of the despatch box has continued at all times the House sits to further minimise any potential risk.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the level of risk of spreading covid-19 as a result of hon. Members touching the despatch boxes and table during physical voting on 2 June 2020; and if he would make a statement.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The House authorities on behalf of the Commission has carried out all risk assessments as required under the Working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance. This identifies the key risks and control measures which have been introduced to allow people to work safely on the parliamentary estate during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Through the development of cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures the risk from touching any surface should be minimised and measures have been put in place to ensure hand washing facilities and / or hand sanitiser is available across the estate. These have also been placed at both entry points to the chamber.
Enhanced cleaning of the despatch box has continued at all times the House sits to further minimise any potential risk.