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UK coronavirus live: Matt Hancock says MPs will get votes on significant lockdown measures if possible UK coronavirus live: Matt Hancock says MPs will get votes on significant lockdown measures if possible
(32 minutes later)
News updates: Commons debate whether to renew Coronavirus Act; PM rejects Starmer remark about widespread confusion News updates: Commons debate whether to renew Coronavirus Act; UK records 7,108 more Covid cases as sharp increase sustained
MPs are voting on the Coronavirus Act motion now.
The debate was short - backbench speeches lasted just three minutes each - but it showed that the No 10 compromise has not satisfied all Conservatives. Sir Charles Walker said it was an “utter, utter disgrace” that MPs were getting just 90 minutes in total to debate such an important measure, and Sir Bernard Jenkin said the PM needed to take more notice of the views of his backbenchers.
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, said:
The government’s coronavirus dashboard has just been updated. Here are the key figures.
The UK has recorded 7,108 new coronavirus cases. This is marginally lower than yesterday’s total (7,143), but it suggests the sharp increase in cases is being sustained. This is only the second time the daily case numbers been above 7,000, and this figure is higher than any recorded at the peak of the first wave in the spring. However, because there is far more testing taking place now than there was in March, April and May, these record case numbers do not mean that the prevalence of coronavirus in the community is comparable to what it was then. Other evidence suggests that overall case numbers are only smallish fraction of what they were in the spring.
The UK has recorded 71 further deaths - almost double the daily figure for a week ago (37). It takes the headline total number of deaths to 42,143. But this figure is an underestimate because it only counts people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus. Overall more than 57,600 people have died from confirmed or suspected coronavirus in the UK.
Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the Conservative 1922 Committee, is speaking in the Commons debate now. He welcomes what Matt Hancock said. He says the new approach will be in the interests of parliament and of government, and it should ensure people that important questions are addressed before new regulations are imposed.Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the Conservative 1922 Committee, is speaking in the Commons debate now. He welcomes what Matt Hancock said. He says the new approach will be in the interests of parliament and of government, and it should ensure people that important questions are addressed before new regulations are imposed.
Mark Harper, a former Tory chief whip, intervenes. He says what Hancock described (see 3.45pm) is exactly what Brady asked for in his amendment (see 9.37am), with the one exception that the word “possible” has replaced Brady’s word “practicable”.Mark Harper, a former Tory chief whip, intervenes. He says what Hancock described (see 3.45pm) is exactly what Brady asked for in his amendment (see 9.37am), with the one exception that the word “possible” has replaced Brady’s word “practicable”.
Labour’s Chris Bryant asks Brady if he can explain what the new system actually involves.Labour’s Chris Bryant asks Brady if he can explain what the new system actually involves.
Brady says the government is talking about using commencement dates in regulations. Regulations would be introduced using the affirmative procedure (which is what happens now), but commencement dates for regulations would be set in the future, so the laws would only take effect after MPs have voted on them.Brady says the government is talking about using commencement dates in regulations. Regulations would be introduced using the affirmative procedure (which is what happens now), but commencement dates for regulations would be set in the future, so the laws would only take effect after MPs have voted on them.
Under the current system, MPs do approve regulations, but any vote can take place up to 40 days after they have already come into force.Under the current system, MPs do approve regulations, but any vote can take place up to 40 days after they have already come into force.
Scotland’s higher education minister Richard Lochead has told the Holyrood parliament that his government was “never advised to keep students at home” while insisting that young people “are in no way to blame” for the current spike in infections across Scotland’s campuses. Scotland’s higher education minister, Richard Lochead, has told the Holyrood parliament that his government was “never advised to keep students at home” while insisting that young people “are in no way to blame” for the current spike in infections across Scotland’s campuses.
Lochead insisted that bringing students back to campus – a move that has been sharply criticised by opposition parties, students bodies and some academics – was in line with scientific advice and that “there were no easy risk-free option”.Lochead insisted that bringing students back to campus – a move that has been sharply criticised by opposition parties, students bodies and some academics – was in line with scientific advice and that “there were no easy risk-free option”.
He said that the Scottish government was advised that telling students to stay away from campuses would have “inflicted significant harm on them and the wider higher education sector in Scotland”.He said that the Scottish government was advised that telling students to stay away from campuses would have “inflicted significant harm on them and the wider higher education sector in Scotland”.
He also confirmed that 759 students had tested positive for Covid with “many more” self-isolating, adding that he expected to see more positive cases in the coming days.He also confirmed that 759 students had tested positive for Covid with “many more” self-isolating, adding that he expected to see more positive cases in the coming days.
And he said that he wants students “to have the option to return home safely for Christmas”. He said:And he said that he wants students “to have the option to return home safely for Christmas”. He said:
Here is another Labour MP describing Matt Hancock’s concession as worthless.Here is another Labour MP describing Matt Hancock’s concession as worthless.
The government’s centralised approach to decision-making on lockdown restrictions is “unsustainable” and must urgently change before “the most difficult winter we’ve ever known in this country”, Andy Burnham has said.The mayor of Greater Manchester said the government’s approach had been “too driven from rooms in Whitehall” with little regard to the impact of decisions on communities.Calling for local leaders to be more involved in the decision-making process, Burnham said at a press conference:The government’s centralised approach to decision-making on lockdown restrictions is “unsustainable” and must urgently change before “the most difficult winter we’ve ever known in this country”, Andy Burnham has said.The mayor of Greater Manchester said the government’s approach had been “too driven from rooms in Whitehall” with little regard to the impact of decisions on communities.Calling for local leaders to be more involved in the decision-making process, Burnham said at a press conference:
Burnham said one of the key issues was a lack of extra financial support for areas where restrictions have been imposed and that there should be an urgent review of the 10pm curfew on nightlife, which is “causing major harm to a hospitality industry that is already teetering on a cliff edge”. He added:Burnham said one of the key issues was a lack of extra financial support for areas where restrictions have been imposed and that there should be an urgent review of the 10pm curfew on nightlife, which is “causing major harm to a hospitality industry that is already teetering on a cliff edge”. He added:
Burnham said the government should never impose local restrictions without proper financial support for residents, businesses and councils in those areas. It was “utterly wrong” that Bolton’s hospitality industry had not been offered Treasury support, beyond a payment of up to £1,500 every three weeks, despite being forced to go takeaway-only three weeks ago.He added: “We’ve had the health crisis and that continues but now we’re going to see the economic crisis break as well as a health crisis simultaneously because the redundancies are going to start if things stay as they are.”Burnham said the government should never impose local restrictions without proper financial support for residents, businesses and councils in those areas. It was “utterly wrong” that Bolton’s hospitality industry had not been offered Treasury support, beyond a payment of up to £1,500 every three weeks, despite being forced to go takeaway-only three weeks ago.He added: “We’ve had the health crisis and that continues but now we’re going to see the economic crisis break as well as a health crisis simultaneously because the redundancies are going to start if things stay as they are.”
In the Coronavirus Act debate the Labour MP Chris Bryant said he thought Matt Hancock’s concession was worth “nothing” because it had not been written down. Hancock replied by saying Bryant would be able to read it in Hansard.In the Coronavirus Act debate the Labour MP Chris Bryant said he thought Matt Hancock’s concession was worth “nothing” because it had not been written down. Hancock replied by saying Bryant would be able to read it in Hansard.
Hancock told MPs that one part of the Coronavirus Act was being dropped.Hancock told MPs that one part of the Coronavirus Act was being dropped.
The act allowed people to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act on the basis of the opinion of just one doctor, not two. It also allowed the time limits for these orders to be extended.The act allowed people to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act on the basis of the opinion of just one doctor, not two. It also allowed the time limits for these orders to be extended.
Hancock said that, even when the act was passed, he was not convinced this part was necessary. Now it will be dropped, he said. He said the government would introduce secondary legislation to remove this provision in the bill.Hancock said that, even when the act was passed, he was not convinced this part was necessary. Now it will be dropped, he said. He said the government would introduce secondary legislation to remove this provision in the bill.
Here is the full quote from Matt Hancock on the new arrangements. He said:Here is the full quote from Matt Hancock on the new arrangements. He said:
Hancock said he hoped that these new arrangements would be seen as a new convention.Hancock said he hoped that these new arrangements would be seen as a new convention.
Hancock is now addressing what the government will do ensure MPs get more say over emergency regulations.
(This is the compromise deal brokered with Tory rebels.)
He says he believes that legislation is improved by scrutiny from the Commons.
He says that in future, for significant national measures affecting the whole of England or the whole of the UK, the government will consult MPs and give them a vote wherever possible before those measures come into force.
But he says ministers must reserve the right to act quickly in emergencies.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is opening the debate.
He says the government has needed the powers in the act and that it needs to be reviewed, even though not all the powers in the act are needed in future.
MPs are now starting the Coronavirus Act debate.
There is a provision in the act saying it has to be renewed by parliament after six months. MPs are now debating that provision. There is a simple motion asking MPs to agree “that the temporary provisions of the Coronavirus Act 2020 should not yet expire” and it is not amendable. That is why the Speaker has not allowed the amendment tabled by Sir Graham Brady, or any of the other amendments.
British football’s top 100 earners should consider donating a week’s wages to support community clubs across the country, MPs have heard. The sports minister Nigel Huddleston appeared to back the idea in the Commons earlier after it was floated by Labour’s Chris Evans.
During an urgent question on government support for sport, Evans said:
Huddleston replied:
Public Health Wales has recorded 388 more coronavirus cases and one further death.
There have been 424 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Northern Ireland in the last 24-hour reporting period, the Department of Health there has announced. A further coronavirus-linked death has been reported to the department, although it did not occur within the last day.
Asked about the prospect of tighter coronavirus restrictions being imposed on Merseyside (see 2.18pm), Downing Street said that officials are “closely monitoring” the coronavirus rate in Merseyside and that the current rules are being kept “under constant review”.
NHS England has recorded 43 further coronavirus hospital deaths. It says that the people who died were aged between 43 and 98 years old and that all except one had known underlying health conditions. The details are here.
Failure to protect healthcare workers from Covid-19 has been described as “outrageous to the point of immorality” by a Nobel prize winner. Sir Paul Nurse, director of London’s Francis Crick Institute and a geneticist who won the Nobel prize for medicine, said the UK and other countries were “woefully unprepared” for the pandemic. As PA Media reports, in an interview in the latest Big Issue magazine Nurse said the government had not properly embraced how to deal with science and explain it to the public.
The National Education Union wants the government to back “Nightingale schools” with additional teachers and smaller class sizes, to help curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus in areas of high risk.
The call comes as the NEU launched a new website to track Covid-19 outbreaks around each school, as part of a campaign to lobby the government for better access to tests for both staff and pupils.
In a briefing before the union’s special conference on Saturday, Kevin Courtney, the NEU’s joint general secretary, said:
Courtney said the Department for Education’s latest figures showed that more than 500 secondary schools in England were only partially open, and that there were reports of entire year classes and groups of pupils studying for GCSE and A-level or BTec qualifications being sent home to isolate.
The union’s delegates will also consider a motion calling for changes to the exam and assessment system for 2021. It wants standardised tests in primary schools to be dropped, and for changes to GCSE and A-level exams to avoid a repeat of this year’s fiasco.