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No 10 says '8m hospitalised' is planning assumption, not what government expects - UK politics live No 10 says '8m hospitalised' is planning assumption, not what government expects - UK politics live
(32 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happenRolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen
According to Labour whips, the Matt Hancock statement may come later than 3.30pm, to allow him to update MPs on the conclusion of the Cobra meeting, which will start at 3.15pm.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, will make a statement to MPs about coronavirus. It is due at 3.30pm.
Here are the latest coronavirus figures from Public Health Wales.
The BBC’s Lorna Gordon has a good Twitter thread starting here giving details of what was said at Nicola Sturgeon’s off-cameron coronavirus briefing this morning. Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, was speaking, alongside Jeane Freeman, the Scottish health secretary, and Catherine Calderwood, the Scottish chief medical officer. It starts here.
And here are some of the main points.
At the briefing Sturgeon said that, like Boris Johnson, she will now schedule daily government on-camera briefings. She will do her first this afternoon, after the Cobra meeting.
The BBC was due to end free TV licences for all over-75s at the end of May. After that, pensioners on pension credit were going to still qualify, but other pensions were going to have to pay.
Now, in the light of coronavirus, the BBC has delayed the end of free TV licences for all pensioners by at least two months. It says the current plan is to bring in the new system on 1 August, but that this will be kept under review.
With the government soon to advise the over-70s that they will have to stay mostly at home to avoid the risk of getting coronavirus, the case for over-75s being able to have free access to TV has become stronger than ever.
Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, said in response:
Q: Is the PM chairing this G7 call?Q: Is the PM chairing this G7 call?
The spokesman says the US is in the lead, as chair of the G7 this year.The spokesman says the US is in the lead, as chair of the G7 this year.
Q: Will oil prices come up in the G7 call?Q: Will oil prices come up in the G7 call?
The spokesman says he can discuss this further after the call.The spokesman says he can discuss this further after the call.
And that’s it. The briefing is over.And that’s it. The briefing is over.
Q: Are there any plans to change the way cabinet meets to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission?Q: Are there any plans to change the way cabinet meets to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission?
The spokesman says it is important for cabinet to continue to meet.The spokesman says it is important for cabinet to continue to meet.
Q: What will the PM be saying in his G7 call?Q: What will the PM be saying in his G7 call?
The spokesman says the PM has already spoken to all G7 leaders individually in recent days.The spokesman says the PM has already spoken to all G7 leaders individually in recent days.
He says bringing together leaders in this way is supposed to bring leaders together. It will coordinate a global health response, and a global economic response.He says bringing together leaders in this way is supposed to bring leaders together. It will coordinate a global health response, and a global economic response.
And it will look at measures to promote economic stability.And it will look at measures to promote economic stability.
And it will discuss coordination with the IMF, the World Bank and the World Health Organisation?And it will discuss coordination with the IMF, the World Bank and the World Health Organisation?
Q: Isn’t there a contradiction between wanting to promote economic stability and closing borders?Q: Isn’t there a contradiction between wanting to promote economic stability and closing borders?
The spokesman says border policy is a matter for individual countries.The spokesman says border policy is a matter for individual countries.
Q: Why did we not have more ventilators in the first place?Q: Why did we not have more ventilators in the first place?
The spokesman says we are facing an unprecedented situation.The spokesman says we are facing an unprecedented situation.
Q: On ventilators, is there a national standard design?Q: On ventilators, is there a national standard design?
The spokesman says there has been a very strong response from industry. Further details will be discussed in the call this afternoon.The spokesman says there has been a very strong response from industry. Further details will be discussed in the call this afternoon.
Q: What does the PM think of the US banning travel from the UK? What will he say to Trump about it?Q: What does the PM think of the US banning travel from the UK? What will he say to Trump about it?
The spokesman says the PM spoke to the president at the weekend. Ultimately this is a matter for the US, he says.The spokesman says the PM spoke to the president at the weekend. Ultimately this is a matter for the US, he says.
Q: Will there be an inner war cabinet?Q: Will there be an inner war cabinet?
The spokesman says he would not use that term.The spokesman says he would not use that term.
Q: What about the new business response committee mentioned by Grant Shapps this morning? (See 9.20am.)Q: What about the new business response committee mentioned by Grant Shapps this morning? (See 9.20am.)
The PM has asked the chancellor [Rishi Sunak] to chair and economic and business response committee. The business secretary will be the deputy chair. It will consider the business impact of coronavirus.The PM has asked the chancellor [Rishi Sunak] to chair and economic and business response committee. The business secretary will be the deputy chair. It will consider the business impact of coronavirus.
Q: Will it consider bail outs?Q: Will it consider bail outs?
The spokesman says more details of what it is looking out will be set out shorlty.The spokesman says more details of what it is looking out will be set out shorlty.
Q: Is the government going to offer state support for airlines?
The spokesman says the government recognises how difficult the situation is for airlines. It is working with the industry on measures to help airlines with temporary difficulties.
And he says last week the UK government influenced the EU into relaxing its rules around flight slots.
Q: Has the government discussed the need for some legal form of rationing?
The spokesman says that is not part of the legislation coming forward.
Q: Is the government organising repatriation flights?
The spokesman says flights to the UK are available from most countries.
Q: Are you doing anything to stop panic buying?
The spokesman says the government wants people to shop reasonably. Retailers are doing what they can to ensure consumers have the supplies they need.
Q: Does the PM think people are being selfish?
The spokesman says the PM has said there is no need for people to buy more than they need.
Q: What do you say to people who say the UK is not doing enough testing?
The spokesman says the UK has carried out more tests than most countries in the world, and it plans to increase its testing capacity.
Q: Yesterday Hancock said the elderly would be asked to self-isolate, implying they should not leave their homes. But Scottish officials are talking about social distancing. Which is it?
The spokesman says people should wait until the guidance comes out, so they can see what it says.
He says it would be better for us to wait until the press conference later.
Q: What does the PM feel about so many people working from home when the government is not advising that?
The spokesman says the government will be setting out details of its response later. But firms are making their own contingency plan. That is understandable.
Q: What has changed between Friday, when the chief scientific adviser said the government wanted to build up herd immunity, and Sunday, when Matt Hancock said that was not policy?
The spokesman says he does not accept the premise of the question. He says going for herd immunity has not been government policy. He says he made that clear at a briefing on Friday.
Q: The document reported in the Guardian says the government does expect as many as 80% of the population to get coronavirus. But the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser say that is not what they expect. Who is right?
The spokesman says the 80% figure is a reasonable worst case scenario.
Q: Is the PM concerned that people are giving different messages about what the over-70s will be advised in Scotland from in England?
The spokesman says the UK government will be clarifying what the advice is soon.