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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/jun/17/coronavirus-uk-live-government-urged-to-explain-future-of-shielded-status
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| Coronavirus UK live: Hancock says announcement on shielding to come very soon | Coronavirus UK live: Hancock says announcement on shielding to come very soon |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Government to write to 2.2m people shielding in England ‘very shortly’ after charities call on Johnson for clarity amid confusion over end to measure | Government to write to 2.2m people shielding in England ‘very shortly’ after charities call on Johnson for clarity amid confusion over end to measure |
| The transport committee is underway with Andy Burnham and Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram. | |
| “Given social distancing and so on we are still unable to meet demand even on some of our routes. We have a good relationship with our bus operators... but on key routes they are still finding we are at capacity already due to social distancing,” Rotherham said | |
| He said that if social distancing was relaxed to 1m on buses they would still only be able to “get one more passenger on buses”. | |
| He said that they must see bus services support grants being properly devolved to transport authorities in their areas. | |
| “We know what our main routes are and what routes need supporting and we can be flexible as opposed to directly paying operators to continue delivering in the old manner. We have to start using this as an opportunity to change how we work.” | |
| Banking giant HSBC has said it will resume plans to cut around 35,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years after putting the redundancy programme on hold amid the coronavirus crisis. In an internal memo to its 235,000 staff, chief executive Noel Quinn said the cuts first announced in February are “even more necessary today”. He said the group would will also freeze the “vast majority” of external recruitment. Quinn said: “We could not pause the job losses indefinitely - it was always a question of ‘not if, but when’.” | |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day. | Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, joining the blog for the day. |
| Here is the agenda showing what’s coming up. | Here is the agenda showing what’s coming up. |
| 9.30am: Metro mayors Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester), Steve Rotherham (Liverpool city region) and Tim Bowles (West of England) give evidence to the Commons transport committee on coronavirus and transport. | 9.30am: Metro mayors Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester), Steve Rotherham (Liverpool city region) and Tim Bowles (West of England) give evidence to the Commons transport committee on coronavirus and transport. |
| 9.45am: Teaching unions leaders Patrick Roach (NASUWT), Julie McCulloch (ASCL), Jon Richards (Unison) and Mary Bousted (NEU) give evidence to the Commons education committee on school opening. | 9.45am: Teaching unions leaders Patrick Roach (NASUWT), Julie McCulloch (ASCL), Jon Richards (Unison) and Mary Bousted (NEU) give evidence to the Commons education committee on school opening. |
| 12pm: Boris Johnson faces Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs. | 12pm: Boris Johnson faces Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs. |
| 12.30pm: Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is due to answer a Commons urgent question on coronavirus. | 12.30pm: Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is due to answer a Commons urgent question on coronavirus. |
| 12.30pm: The Scottish and Welsh governments are due to hold their daily press conferences. | 12.30pm: The Scottish and Welsh governments are due to hold their daily press conferences. |
| 1.15pm: Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, makes a Commons statement on the prospect of the UK joining the TPP Asian free trade deal. | 1.15pm: Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, makes a Commons statement on the prospect of the UK joining the TPP Asian free trade deal. |
| 2.30pm: Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA, is among the witnesses giving evidence to the Commons women and equalities committee on the impact of coronavirus on BAME people. | 2.30pm: Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA, is among the witnesses giving evidence to the Commons women and equalities committee on the impact of coronavirus on BAME people. |
| 5pm: UK government press conference. | 5pm: UK government press conference. |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he may have had “Harry Potter on the mind” when he mistakenly praised “Daniel Rashford” for his work on free school meals. Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford led a campaign to extend the children’s food voucher scheme into the summer holidays, which forced a change in policy with a £120m fund to feed 1.3m children in England over the six-week break. Denying that the government made an embarrassing U-turn on the subject, Hancock told Sky News on Wednesday morning: “”Righty-ho, I will tell you what happened, the prime minister talked to Daniel Rashford, he considered it and made his decision - I think it’s terrific.” The minister later told radio station LBC that his child’s fondness for the JK Rowling novels may have been to blame and “maybe I had Harry Potter on the mind”. Harry Potter was played by Daniel Radcliffe in the movie adaptions of the popular books. Hancock added: “My seven-year-old listens to Harry Potter and reads Harry Potter avidly, including at 5.30 this morning when I got up to do this morning’s media round.” He suggested it had been “too early in the morning” and laughed as he told BBC Breakfast: “I completely misspoke.” England star Rashford, 22, appeared to joke about the incident, responding on Twitter by saying “I’ve been called much worse over the last couple of days” with a laughing face emoji. | |
| The mayor of the West Midlands and Birmingham airport chief executive have called for a re-think on quarantine measures amid concern about the economic damage they could cause. | |
| Andy Street and Nick Barton have written to the home secretary, Priti Patel, warning that making people self-isolate for 14 days after entering Britain from abroad could have a long-term impact on the travel industry in the West Midlands. | |
| It comes as the airport industry has seen a 90% fall in passenger numbers due to the pandemic. | It comes as the airport industry has seen a 90% fall in passenger numbers due to the pandemic. |
| The quarantine restrictions are due to come under review later this month, but the pair have asked the government to employ a more flexible approach, particularly with regard to those arriving from low risk countries or locations. Suggestions include offering testing on arrival, or the introduction of air bridges with key countries that have low transmission rates. | The quarantine restrictions are due to come under review later this month, but the pair have asked the government to employ a more flexible approach, particularly with regard to those arriving from low risk countries or locations. Suggestions include offering testing on arrival, or the introduction of air bridges with key countries that have low transmission rates. |
| Mayor Andy Street, who signed the letter on behalf of the region’s Economic Impact Group (EIG), said: | Mayor Andy Street, who signed the letter on behalf of the region’s Economic Impact Group (EIG), said: |
| As well as the impact on both the tourism and business tourism sectors, there are concerns about the damage these measures will to do Birmingham airport, which has already had to pause its ambitious £500m expansion plans because of coronavirus. | |
| Nick Barton, the chief executive of Birmingham airport, said: | |
| In 2018 tourism was worth £836 million to the regional economy and is considered to be especially important for popular destinations like Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. | In 2018 tourism was worth £836 million to the regional economy and is considered to be especially important for popular destinations like Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick. |
| The Guardian’s Patrick Butler and Sally Weale look at what the free school meal scheme means, concluding that it will still leave many children to go hungry. Please give the story a read. | The Guardian’s Patrick Butler and Sally Weale look at what the free school meal scheme means, concluding that it will still leave many children to go hungry. Please give the story a read. |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock declined to apologise to footballers over his past call for them to “play their part” in the coronavirus response, and said he is “really proud” of Marcus Rashford. “I think the way that Marcus Rashford conducted this campaign was just exemplary. I’m really proud of him,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He was pressed about his previous call for Premier League footballers to contribute to the Covid-19 response amid concerns over the furlough scheme. Asked if he owes Rashford and other players an apology, Hancock told Today: | |
| Hancock was also asked about whether shielding would end soon. (See 8.02am.) He said an announcement was coming very soon and that the government would “very shortly” write to 2.2 million people who are staying in because they are most vulnerable to getting unwell due to the virus. | |
| The health secretary was also asked about a second wave and whether people would comply with another lockdown. He said that the answer was controlling local outbreaks by shutting things down in specific areas where there are a rise in cases. | The health secretary was also asked about a second wave and whether people would comply with another lockdown. He said that the answer was controlling local outbreaks by shutting things down in specific areas where there are a rise in cases. |
| “That level of intensive local action is best way to keep a lid on any outbreaks,” he said. | “That level of intensive local action is best way to keep a lid on any outbreaks,” he said. |
| When asked about test and trace, Hancock said he was pleased with the figures of the first week of operation but noted their ability to trace those who may have came in contact with someone who had the virus would get stronger over time. “The most important thing is that those with symptoms come forward to have a test,” he said. | When asked about test and trace, Hancock said he was pleased with the figures of the first week of operation but noted their ability to trace those who may have came in contact with someone who had the virus would get stronger over time. “The most important thing is that those with symptoms come forward to have a test,” he said. |
| He added that the government had been open about the fact it would take a while for the programme to be fully operational and operating at a world-class level. | He added that the government had been open about the fact it would take a while for the programme to be fully operational and operating at a world-class level. |
| Matt Hancock, speaking on the BBC Today programme, said that there was an “awfully long way to go” for the whole world in terms of tackling coronavirus. | Matt Hancock, speaking on the BBC Today programme, said that there was an “awfully long way to go” for the whole world in terms of tackling coronavirus. |
| Hancock was then asked if the public have stopped listening to government rules and whether they would follow them in future. | Hancock was then asked if the public have stopped listening to government rules and whether they would follow them in future. |
| “I don’t think that is true,” Hancock said. “You can look at individual photographs [of people at beaches or in crowds] ... but if you look at the overall movements and the amount of traffic, for instance, of course it is going up but it is not nearly where it was because the lockdown continues.” | |
| Hancock was then asked about when the two-meter rule would be eased, amid pressure on the government to do so to help boost the economy. | Hancock was then asked about when the two-meter rule would be eased, amid pressure on the government to do so to help boost the economy. |
| With regards to the summer and holidays, Hancock responded to questions about whether the quarantine measures imposed by government would be eased. The measures mean anyone going abroad must self-isolate for 14 days upon returning, even if they do not experience any symptoms of Coronavirus. | With regards to the summer and holidays, Hancock responded to questions about whether the quarantine measures imposed by government would be eased. The measures mean anyone going abroad must self-isolate for 14 days upon returning, even if they do not experience any symptoms of Coronavirus. |
| Hancock suggested that travel may take place between countries where numbers are low, using travel corridors. He said: | Hancock suggested that travel may take place between countries where numbers are low, using travel corridors. He said: |
| The husband of a pregnant nurse who died from coronavirus has argued that his wife should not have been working at the start of the pandemic. | The husband of a pregnant nurse who died from coronavirus has argued that his wife should not have been working at the start of the pandemic. |
| Mary Agyapong worked at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital in Bedfordshire and was diagnosed with coronavirus in early April, dying a week later. | Mary Agyapong worked at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital in Bedfordshire and was diagnosed with coronavirus in early April, dying a week later. |
| Doctors were able to save her baby by an emergency C- section but her husband, Ernest, told the BBC his wife should not have been working at the the start of the pandemic as she was heavily pregnant. | Doctors were able to save her baby by an emergency C- section but her husband, Ernest, told the BBC his wife should not have been working at the the start of the pandemic as she was heavily pregnant. |
| The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We have carried out a full internal review into the circumstances surrounding her death and we are confident that she received the best possible care and support from the Trust. | The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We have carried out a full internal review into the circumstances surrounding her death and we are confident that she received the best possible care and support from the Trust. |
| “We have sent our deepest condolences to Mr Boateng, and are currently working through a number of issues he has raised.” | “We have sent our deepest condolences to Mr Boateng, and are currently working through a number of issues he has raised.” |
| UK inflation fell to its lowest level in four years last month after a record drop in fuel prices and as clothing and energy costs continued to tumble, official figures have shown. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 0.5% in May from 0.8% in April - the lowest since June 2016. | UK inflation fell to its lowest level in four years last month after a record drop in fuel prices and as clothing and energy costs continued to tumble, official figures have shown. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 0.5% in May from 0.8% in April - the lowest since June 2016. |
| But the ONS said that using an alternative basket of goods, which removes items not available due to the coronavirus crisis, CPI would have been even lower – at 0.4% in May. | But the ONS said that using an alternative basket of goods, which removes items not available due to the coronavirus crisis, CPI would have been even lower – at 0.4% in May. |
| It comes as fuel prices tumbled by 16.7% in May – the biggest fall on record – while energy costs dropped 7% and clothing and footwear price tags fell 3.1% as retailers resorted to heavy discounts amid the lockdown. | It comes as fuel prices tumbled by 16.7% in May – the biggest fall on record – while energy costs dropped 7% and clothing and footwear price tags fell 3.1% as retailers resorted to heavy discounts amid the lockdown. |
| Larry Elliott has more here. | |
| Health secretary Matt Hancock said an announcement on shielding would be coming “very soon”. He told BBC Breakfast: | |
| Last night the Health Service Journal reported that the shielding programmee would end at the end of July. | |
| But the government said no final decision had been taken. | |
| Drugs offences in England and Wales rose by 27% during lockdown despite total recorded crime dropping by a quarter, figures suggest. | Drugs offences in England and Wales rose by 27% during lockdown despite total recorded crime dropping by a quarter, figures suggest. |
| Data obtained by the PA news agency under Freedom of Information laws showed that thousands more crimes linked to banned substances were recorded by police between March 23 and May 25 than in the same nine-week period last year. There was also a rise of 9% compared with the number of recorded offences between January 20 and March 23 this year. In total, 26 forces that responded recorded a total of 25,297 drugs offences, including trafficking and possession, between March 23 and May 25 this year, compared with 19,840 in the same period in 2019.There were 23,113 drug crimes recorded between January 20 and March 23 this year. The latest total national figures for all crime reported by the National Police Chiefs’ Council showed a 25% drop in England and Wales in the four-week period to May 10. | Data obtained by the PA news agency under Freedom of Information laws showed that thousands more crimes linked to banned substances were recorded by police between March 23 and May 25 than in the same nine-week period last year. There was also a rise of 9% compared with the number of recorded offences between January 20 and March 23 this year. In total, 26 forces that responded recorded a total of 25,297 drugs offences, including trafficking and possession, between March 23 and May 25 this year, compared with 19,840 in the same period in 2019.There were 23,113 drug crimes recorded between January 20 and March 23 this year. The latest total national figures for all crime reported by the National Police Chiefs’ Council showed a 25% drop in England and Wales in the four-week period to May 10. |
| Good morning to anyone joining the live feed today, in which I will bring you the latest information and updates on Coronavirus in the UK. Please do share your thoughts, comments and news tips with me today, it’s always really valuable to hear from our readers. | Good morning to anyone joining the live feed today, in which I will bring you the latest information and updates on Coronavirus in the UK. Please do share your thoughts, comments and news tips with me today, it’s always really valuable to hear from our readers. |
| I hope everyone has a good start to their Wednesday! | I hope everyone has a good start to their Wednesday! |
| Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com | Twitter: @sloumarshInstagram: sarah_marsh_journalistEmail: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com |