Daily Report Wednesday, 25 November 2020 CONTENTS

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Daily Report Wednesday, 25 November 2020 CONTENTS Daily Report Wednesday, 25 November 2020 This report shows written answers and statements provided on 25 November 2020 and the information is correct at the time of publication (06:31 P.M., 25 November 2020). For the latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/ CONTENTS ANSWERS 6 DEFENCE 15 BUSINESS, ENERGY AND Armed Forces: Charities 15 INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 6 Ministry of Defence: Electric AstraZeneca: Coronavirus 6 Vehicles 15 AstraZeneca: Oxford Royal Marines: Military Bases 15 University 6 Type 32 Frigates 15 Bereavement Leave 6 DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND Bounce Back Loan Scheme 7 SPORT 16 Business: Coronavirus 7 Broadband 16 Carbon Emissions: Consumer Football: Coronavirus 16 Goods 8 EDUCATION 17 Carbon Emissions: Exports Autism: Children 17 and Imports 8 Children: Social Mobility 17 Coronavirus: Vaccination 9 Disabled Students' Allowances 18 Environment Protection: Northern Ireland 10 Education: Coronavirus 18 Green Deal Scheme: Educational Institutions: Misrepresentation 11 Coronavirus 19 New Businesses: Females 12 Financial Services: Primary Education 20 Tidal Power 12 Free School Meals: Wholesale Trade: Food 13 Coronavirus 21 CABINET OFFICE 13 Home Education 21 Cabinet Office: Audit 13 Home Education: Coronavirus 22 Elections: Proof of Identity 13 Music: Coronavirus 22 Electoral Register: Disability 14 Overseas Students: Ports: Infrastructure 14 Coronavirus 23 Pre-school Education 23 FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH Pre-school Education: AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 41 Coronavirus 24 Assadolah Assadi 41 Pre-school Education: Breast Ironing 41 Government Assistance 25 Embassies: Coronavirus 42 Remote Education: Bristol Ethiopia: Armed Conflict 42 West 26 Iran: Trials 43 Schools: Coronavirus 27 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe 43 Special Educational Needs: Remote Education 28 Overseas Aid 44 Sports: Coronavirus 29 Overseas Aid: Coronavirus 44 Students: Coronavirus 30 World Health Assembly: Taiwan 45 Students: Loans 31 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 45 Supply Teachers: Coronavirus 32 Abortion 45 Universities: Building Regulations and Fire Abortion: Drugs 45 Prevention 33 Alcoholic Drinks: Consumption 46 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND Autism: Children 46 RURAL AFFAIRS 34 Aviation: Coronavirus 47 Agriculture 34 Brain Injuries and Death: Air Pollution: Curriculum 34 Babies 47 Areas of Outstanding Natural Brain: Tumours 48 Beauty and National Parks: Breast Cancer: Clinical Trials 48 Nature Conservation 35 Cancer: Nurses 49 Barbecues 35 Care Homes: Coronavirus 49 Chemicals: Regulation 36 Care Homes: Inspections 49 Dogs: Imports 36 Contact Tracing 50 Electric Vehicles: Official Cars 37 Contact Tracing: Computer Inland Waterways: Access 38 Software 50 Marine Environment: Contact Tracing: Tower Conservation 38 Hamlets 51 Nature Conservation: Land 39 Contraceptives 51 Sites of Special Scientific Coronavirus: Bedford 52 Interest: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Coronavirus: Collective Parks 40 Worship 53 Water Supply 40 Coronavirus: Contact Tracing 53 Coronavirus: Disease Control 55 GP Surgeries 75 Coronavirus: Ethnic Groups 56 Gynaecology and Maternity Coronavirus: Greater London 57 Services: Standards 75 Coronavirus: Gyms and Health Professions: Mental Leisure 58 Health 76 Coronavirus: Health Services 58 Health Professions: West Midlands 76 Coronavirus: Kent 58 Health: Swimming Pools 77 Coronavirus: Laboratories 59 Healthy Start Scheme 77 Coronavirus: Newcastle upon Tyne 60 HIV Infection: Drugs 77 Coronavirus: North West 60 Influenza: Vaccination 78 Coronavirus: Protective Laboratories: Coronavirus 78 Clothing 60 Local Government: Coronavirus: Quarantine 60 Coronavirus 78 Coronavirus: Redbridge 61 Maternity Services: Disadvantaged and Ethnic Coronavirus: Screening 62 Groups 79 Coronavirus: Shadwell 68 Medical Records: Children 79 Coronavirus: Students 68 Medicine: Education 79 Coronavirus: Suffolk 69 Mental Health Services: Coronavirus: Sutton Coldfield 69 Children and Young People 80 Coronavirus: Vaccination 69 Mental Health Services: Coronavirus: Wakefield 71 Finance 81 Dental Health 71 Mental Health Services: Mothers 82 Dental Health: Children 71 Mental Health Services: Dental Services: Protective Quarantine 82 Clothing 72 Mental Health Services: Young Dental Services: Ventilation 72 People 82 Eating Disorders: Children and Mental Health: Research 83 Young People 72 Miscarriage: Mental Health Exercise Cygnus: Private Services 83 Companies 73 NHS: Migrant Workers 84 General Practitioners 73 Nutrition: Medical Equipment 84 General Practitioners: Coronavirus 74 Obesity: Health Services 84 General Practitioners: Internet 75 Pharmacy 85 Podiatry: Staff 85 Housing: Insulation 98 Prescription Drugs: Safety 86 Motorhomes 101 Protective Clothing: Night Shelters: Coronavirus 101 Coronavirus 86 Religious Buildings: Scientific Advisory Group for Coronavirus 102 Emergencies: Coronavirus 86 INTERNATIONAL TRADE 103 Social Services: Inspections 87 Coronavirus: Medical Speech and Language Treatments 103 Therapy: Waiting Lists 87 Fossil Fuels: Export Credit Strokes: Health Services 88 Guarantees 103 Suicide: Pupils and Students 88 Overseas Trade: Coronavirus 104 Test and Trace Support Trade and Agriculture Payment 89 Commission: Membership 104 UK Lighthouse Labs Network 89 UK Trade with EU 105 HOME OFFICE 90 JUSTICE 105 Company Liquidations 90 Care Proceedings 105 Fines: Coronavirus 90 Offenders: Death 106 Home Office: Electric Vehicles 91 Trials: Crown Court 107 Immigrants: Finance 91 Young Offenders 108 Immigrants: Private Rented NORTHERN IRELAND 108 Housing 93 Community Relations: Immigration Rules: Religion 94 Northern Ireland 108 Immigration: Appeals 94 TRANSPORT 109 Refugees: Coronavirus 94 Aviation: Repayments 109 Refugees: National Insurance 95 Biofuels 109 Windrush Lessons Learned Bridges: Hinckley 110 Review 95 Bus Services 110 Yarls Wood Immigration Bus Services: Coronavirus 111 Removal Centre 96 Driving: Coronavirus 111 HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 96 Electric Vehicles 112 Buildings: Safety 96 Electric Vehicles: Batteries 113 Business: Coronavirus 97 Electric Vehicles: Greater Manchester 113 Evictions and Repossession Orders: Coronavirus 97 Large Goods Vehicles: Air Pollution 114 Homelessness 98 Merchant Shipping: Security 115 Employment: Coronavirus 128 Ports: Air Pollution 115 Employment: Disability 128 Railways: North of England 116 Social Security Benefits 129 Shipping 116 Social Security Benefits: Travel: Costs 116 Coronavirus 130 TREASURY 117 Social Security Benefits: Disability 130 Airports: Non-domestic Rates 117 Universal Credit 131 Beer: Non-domestic Rates 118 Universal Credit: Severe Business: Coronavirus 118 Disability Premium 132 Cars: Northern Ireland 120 Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus Job Retention Equality 132 Scheme 120 WRITTEN STATEMENTS 134 Exports: VAT 121 BUSINESS, ENERGY AND International Military Services: INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 134 Iran 122 Contingencies Fund Advance 134 NFU Mutual: Coronavirus 122 CABINET OFFICE 134 Non-domestic Rates: UK-wide Christmas Coronavirus 123 arrangements 134 Parents: Coronavirus 123 TREASURY 136 Personal Care Services: VAT 124 Contingencies Fund Advance 136 Travel: Coronavirus 125 Tax Credits, Child Benefit and UK Trade with EU: Rules of Guardian’s Allowance Update 136 Origin 125 The Government and UK VAT: Coronavirus 126 Statistics Authority’s response Wholesale Trade: Coronavirus 126 to their joint consultation on the reform to Retail Prices WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 127 Index methodology 137 Civil Servants: Political WORK AND PENSIONS 137 Impartiality 127 Social Security Benefit and WORK AND PENSIONS 127 Pension Up-rating 2021/22 137 Children: Poverty 127 Notes: Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally tabled as an oral question and has since been unstarred. ANSWERS BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY AstraZeneca: Coronavirus Navendu Mishra: [116679] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether AstraZeneca has unilateral power to declare an end to their pandemic no profit pricing commitment. Amanda Solloway: The timings or nature of any commitments regarding vaccine pricing are for the parties involved. The World Health Organisation declared a coronavirus pandemic on 11 March 2020 and we would expect it in due course to declare a move to a post-pandemic period as it has done previously for the H1N1 pandemic in 2010. AstraZeneca: Oxford University Navendu Mishra: [116678] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to funding from the public purse to support the development of the covid-19 vaccine by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, if the Government will publish the terms of the agreement between the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca. Amanda Solloway: We are not able to disclose details of this agreement because of the commercially confidential nature of the contracts between the Government and vaccine manufacturers while commercial negotiations are ongoing. Bereavement Leave Caroline Lucas: [116447] To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward legislative proposals in the forthcoming Employment Bill to establish bereavement leave as a universal statutory employment right for workers who have experienced the death of a close relative; and if he will make a statement. Paul Scully:
Recommended publications
  • View Questions Tabled on PDF File 0.16 MB
    Published: Friday 23 October 2020 Questions tabled on Thursday 22 October 2020 Includes questions tabled on earlier days which have been transferred. T Indicates a topical oral question. Members are selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question. † Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled. N Indicates a question for written answer on a named day under S.O. No. 22(4). [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions for Answer on Friday 23 October Questions for Written Answer 1 N Kirsten Oswald (East Renfrewshire): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department last met with representatives of each of the devolved Administrations to discuss the implementation of the 10 year Veterans Strategy. [Transferred] (106379) 2 N Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care's oral contribution of 19 October 2020, Official Report, column 785 on vaccine production schedules, what the respective (a) starting dates were and (b) planned end dates are for the current trials of the (i) AstraZeneca, (ii) Imperial College and (iii) Novavax vaccines; and if he will list any factors, other than adverse reactions by subjects receiving these vaccines on an experimental basis, which may delay the completion of the trials beyond the planned end
    [Show full text]
  • Tuition Fees Debate They Say That Your Time Spent at University Is Some of the Best in Your Life
    Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP Monthly Report, November 2020 Out of the frying pan, into the fire It would be nice to think that the Government was willing to learn lessons from past failures but with the end of the second England-wide lockdown, we have now returned to the tiers system that led to us locking down again. History repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce. Of course, there’s nothing funny about the deadly coronavirus, which has now claimed over 60,000 lives in the UK alone. Once again, people will die because of this Government’s failures. Their record on combating coronavirus is one of abject and deadly failure. We have one of the worst per capita death tolls among advanced industrialised countries and we are already feeling the ill effects of a recession exacerbated by Tory mismanagement. This is a reminder that there is not and ever was a trade-off between public health and the economy, because people are the most important element of any economy. I opposed the latest measures not because I am against restrictions, but because the ones the Government keeps coming up with are inconsistent, ineffective and come with wholly inadequate financial support. Because the Government keep getting it wrong, we have become trapped in a cycle of lockdowns. The success of various vaccines comes as good news but with full immunisation still months away, we cannot pin all our hopes on this. If we are serious about containing the virus to save lives and protect our economy, then half measures won’t cut it.
    [Show full text]
  • Tuesday 20 April 2021 COMMITTEE of the WHOLE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS
    1 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS Tuesday 20 April 2021 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS FINANCE (No. 2) BILL (Clauses 1 to 5; Clauses 6 to 14 and Schedule 1; Clauses 24 to 26; Clause 28; Clause 30 and Schedule 6; Clauses 31 to 33; Clause 36 and Schedule 7; Clause 40; Clause 41; Clause 86; Clauses 87 to 89 and Schedules 16 and 17; Clauses 90 and 91; Clauses 92 to 96 and Schedule 18; Clause 97 and Schedule 19; Clauses 109 to 111 and Schedules 21 and 22; Clause 115 and Schedule 27; Clauses 117 to 121 and Schedules 29 to 32; Clauses 128 to 130; any new Clauses or new Schedules relating to: the impact of any provision on the financial resources of families or to the subject matter of Clauses 1 to 5, 24 to 26, 28, 31 to 33, 40 and 86; the subject matter of Clauses 6 to 14 and Schedule 1; the impact of any provision on regional economic development; tax avoidance or evasion; the subject matter of Clauses 87 to 89 and Schedules 16 and 17 and Clauses 90 and 91; the subject matter of Clauses 92 to 96 and Schedule 18, Clause 97 and Schedule 19 and Clauses 128 to 130) [FIRST AND SECOND DAY] GLOSSARY This document shows the fate of each clause, schedule, amendment and new clause. The following terms are used: Added: New Clause agreed without a vote and added to the Bill. Agreed to: agreed without a vote. Agreed to on division: agreed following a vote.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP Home Secretary Home Office 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF
    The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP Home Secretary Home Office 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF 18 July 2020 Dear Home Secretary Protecting people being exploited in UK garment factories We are writing as a broad coalition of parliamentarians, businesses, investors and civil society organisations about our concerns regarding the unethical labour practices taking place in garment factories across the UK. We request that urgent action is taken by the Government to implement a ‘Fit to Trade’ licensing scheme that ensures all garment factories are meeting their legal obligations to their employees. As we have seen in the media over the last month, a concerning number of garment workers in key hubs in the UK, such as Leicester, have continued to work in factories throughout lockdown without adequate PPE or social distancing measures in place. These reports on the terrible working conditions people face in UK garment factories add weight to concerns which have been raised over the last five years by academics and Parliamentary Committees about the gross underpayment of the national living wage and serious breaches of health and safety law in these workplaces. Unless action is taken now, thousands more people will likely face exploitation. Responsible retailers and brands have made significant efforts to improve labour practices in garment factories, but whilst this has supported improvements in a handful of factories, it has not led to the desired system-wide changes needed. Most leading fashion retailers have therefore significantly scaled down their UK supply. There is now an opportunity for the UK to become a world-leading, innovative, export led, ethical fashion and textile manufacturing industry, delivering better skilled jobs, that in times of crisis can also be utilised for PPE production.
    [Show full text]
  • Open PDF 257KB
    Education Committee Oral evidence: The impact of Covid-19 on education and children's services, HC 254 Wednesday 24 March 2021 Ordered by the House of Commons to be published on 24 March 2021. Watch the meeting Members present: Robert Halfon (Chair); Fleur Anderson; Apsana Begum; Jonathan Gullis; Tom Hunt; Dr Caroline Johnson; Ian Mearns; David Simmonds; Christian Wakeford. Questions 1405 - 1432 Witnesses I: Ali, Alicia, Bethan, Dmitrijs, Emily and Ladan. Written evidence from witnesses: Examination of witnesses Witnesses: Ali, Alicia, Bethan, Dmitrijs, Emily and Ladan. Q1405 Chair: Good morning, everyone. It is very nice to see you all today. We are doing this via technology. Normally, we would invite you all to the Houses of Parliament to sit with us, but it is great that you are doing this anyway. In this session, we are going to try to learn from you about your experiences and other young people’s experiences during the lockdown. My name is Robert Halfon. I am Chair of the House of Commons Education Committee. Committees in Parliament are there to monitor the work of the Government. We try to look at everything the Government are doing in education and then offer ideas to make things better. That is why we want to listen and learn from you, so that you can give us ideas that we can then go to the Government with and say, “These are the things that need to be done for our young people in education.” Can we start by having you introduce yourselves and then my colleagues will introduce themselves as well? I am going to call your names and ask you to introduce yourselves and your schools.
    [Show full text]
  • Pandemic Planning , File Type: PDF, File Size
    July 2021 Dear ATISN 15194 – Pandemic Planning Thank you for your request to the Welsh Government for information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) received on 03 June 2021. I have interpreted your requested information regarding pandemic planning as follows: 1. What plans were in place for a potential future pandemic before the COVID19 crisis began? 2. What conversations were had at ministerial level, before COVID19, about the potential of a future pandemic? 3. What plans are now in place for a future pandemic, if any? Our Response What plans were in place for a potential future pandemic before the COVID-19 crisis began? Wales, together with the rest of the UK, has been preparing its response to an influenza pandemic for many years. In 2007, Wales participated in the UK level (Tier 1) pandemic flu exercise Winter Willow, which led to the development of the 2007 National Framework for Responding to an Influenza Pandemic. This framework was used to support our Welsh Government response to the 2009 H1N1 Swine Flu pandemic. Although the H1N1 pandemic was not as severe as initially predicted, it did identify areas for further planning and Wales worked with the other UK governments to put in place the UK Influenza Preparedness Strategy 2011. This UK Strategy was agreed by the Health Ministers of all four nations. In 2016, our pandemic influenza plans were tested during Exercise Cygnus. The subsequent lessons identified were taken forward into an ongoing review of pandemic preparedness led by the UK Cabinet Office and Department of Health and Social Care.
    [Show full text]
  • 27Th APRIL 2020
    27th APRIL 2020 19 COVID-19 REPORT SUMMARY • The number of confirmed deaths as a result of COVID-19 has now passed 200,000 with Johns Hopkins University confirming almost 2,980,053 cases worldwide. • On 25th April, the UK became the fifth country in the world to record 20,000 hospital deaths as a result of COVID- 19. The UK death toll currently stands at 20,732. • Several Muslim majority countries have now begun to soften COVID-19 measures in preparation for the holy month of Ramadan with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria all shortening curfews that had been in place. • Multiple US States and European countries have begun to ease lockdown restrictions having instituted plans to begin reopening shops. • The World Health Organisation has warned that Africa could see as many as 10 million cases of COVID-19 within three to six months. In the last 10 days alone, the continent has seen a 40% rise in new COVID-19 cases. • A second wave of locusts has descended on East Africa and the swarm is estimated to be 20 times bigger than the first invasion at the end of 2019. Amidst the COVID-19 global lockdown, pesticides and bio-pesticides usually sourced from countries such as Japan, Morocco and the Netherlands, have become more expensive and harder to obtain. Further to this, protective clothing worn when using pesticides have been taken for those combating this coronavirus outbreak. • The World Health Organisation has warned against introducing ‘immunity passports’ for people who have recovered from the COVID-19 virus, citing that ‘there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection’.
    [Show full text]
  • Daily Report Thursday, 17 June 2021 CONTENTS
    Daily Report Thursday, 17 June 2021 This report shows written answers and statements provided on 17 June 2021 and the information is correct at the time of publication (06:30 P.M., 17 June 2021). For the latest information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements, please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/ CONTENTS ANSWERS 7 DEFENCE 12 ATTORNEY GENERAL 7 Aircraft Carriers 12 Attorney General: Freedom of Apache AH-64 Helicopters: Information 7 Guided Weapons 12 BUSINESS, ENERGY AND Armed Forces: Radicalism 12 INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 7 Fleet Solid Support Ships: Coronavirus: Vaccination 7 Procurement 13 Department for Business, Libya: Armed Conflict 13 Energy and Industrial Strategy: Mali: Peacekeeping Freedom of Information 7 Operations 14 Hydrogen: Finance 8 Military Bases: York 14 Mineworkers' Pension Scheme 8 Ministry of Defence: Artificial CABINET OFFICE 8 Intelligence 15 Cabinet Office: Artificial Ministry of Defence: Freedom Intelligence 8 of Information 15 Cabinet Office: Freedom of Oman: Visits Abroad 15 Information 9 Porton Down: Animal Coronavirus: Vaccination 9 Experiments 16 Homes England: Re- Yemen: Military Intervention 16 employment 9 DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND CHURCH COMMISSIONERS 10 SPORT 16 [Subject Heading to be BBC: Royal Charters 16 Assigned] 10 Broadcasting: Scotland 17 St Margaret's Church Camelot Group: Computer Westminster: Westminster Software 17 Abbey 11 Camelot Group: Consultants 19 Camelot Group: Marketing 20 Camelot Group: Sales 20 ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND Consumer
    [Show full text]
  • COVID-19/SARS-Cov2: an Exploration
    COVID-19/SARS-CoV2: An Exploration How we act now INTERACTIVE DOWNLOADABLE PDF will build the future for our children An urgent invitation: • To question all that is happening before the chance is lost • To explore broader science, views and statistics • To research further A compilation of links to resources that will: • Help you to navigate the current situation • Help you to make informed decisions • Promote open debate and explore different views • Offer a starting point for further research • Introduce just the tip of the iceberg of the wealth of knowledge we can explore Photo by Monica Gozalo on Unsplash.com • June 2021 COVID-19/SARS-CoV2: An Exploration PLEASE NOTE: Any text you see coloured orange with an underline throughout this document, will be clickable live links to internal Sections or Pages within this document, or go to external reference websites. INTRODUCTION In response to the remarkable times we are living in, we have created this shareable, downloadable, interactive PDF Exploration document ( also found on-lineHERE ), a gathering of our extensive research into the covid pandemic and its effects on us all. We hope that it will enable and inspire you to research further if you choose to. We respect and appreciate that some of what you read and explore may challenge views you hold to be true at the moment, but we believe there are significant questions that need asking about the Covid19 narrative as it is. We all wish to make choices that will enable a full and healthy life for ourselves, our communities and our children, and that are right for now and for the future.
    [Show full text]
  • How the Nations Should Gear up for Future Pandemics?
    Electronic supplementary material: The online version of this article contains supplementary material. Cite as: Issac A, Vijay VR, Krishnan N, Jacob J, Stephen S, Radhakrishnan RV, Dhan- © 2021 THE AUTHOR(S) dapani M. How the nations should gear up for future pandemics? J Glob Health JOGH © 2021 ISGH 2021;11:03075. How the nations should gear up for future pandemics? VIEWPOINTS Alwin Issac1, VR Vijay1, Nadiya Krishnan1, Jaison Jacob1, Shine Stephen1, Rakesh Vadakkethil Radhakrishnan1, Manju Dhandapani2 1College of Nursing, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, India 2National Institute of Nursing Education, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India ealth authorities from the city of Wuhan, China, informed World Health Organization (WHO) about an increase in pneumonia cases of unknown origin on December 31, 2019. Health authorities in China Hdetected novel coronavirus as the causative agent for the pneumonia cases and the virus was initially named “2019-nCoV”, which was later renamed as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Owing to the virus virulence and its contagious nature, WHO declared novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. With the steep rise in number of people infected with the virus outside China, WHO stated the eruption as a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [1]. Owing to the plight of wildlife habitat, poor health system, and global connectivity, COVID-19 wouldn’t be the last time a virus would jump from animal into humans To increase pandemic resil- and endanger humanity. The ever-rising trend of globalization and human migra- ience, nations must adhere to tion for trade, commerce, and tourism across the national borders has made it easy the fundamentals of universal for an outbreak to progress to a pandemic.
    [Show full text]
  • Questions Tabled on Friday 23 October 2020
    Published: Monday 26 October 2020 Questions tabled on Friday 23 October 2020 Includes questions tabled on earlier days which have been transferred. T Indicates a topical oral question. Members are selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question. † Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled. N Indicates a question for written answer on a named day under S.O. No. 22(4). [R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared. Questions for Answer on Monday 2 November Questions for Written Answer 1 N Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many companies or entities his Department (a) controls or (b) has significant influence over whose accounts are not audited by the National Audit Office. (108274) 2 N Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Kilburn): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what review he has made of (a) his Department’s and (c) cross-Government audit arrangements for Government contracts in the last 12 months; and what changes he has made to those arrangements to ensure (i) their adequacy and (ii) manage risk in relation to the extraordinary procurements undertaken during the covid-19 outbreak. (108275) 3 N Cat Smith (Lancaster and Fleetwood): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2020 to Question 100441 on Elections, which stakeholders from the Traveller and Roma community the Government has consulted to ensure reforms are delivered in a way that is inclusive for voters from that community.
    [Show full text]
  • Wetherspoon-News-Do-Lockdowns-Work-Winter-2020.Pdf
    READ BY 2 MILLION CUSTOMERS your free magazine | winter 2020/21 WETHERSPOONNEWS Good decisions depend on a wide range of views and backgrounds… but lack of diversity among political leaders leads to dangerous groupthink… Boris Johnson (Prime Minister) Oxford University 1987 Nick Thomas-Symonds Chris Whitty Dominic Raab (Shadow Home Secretary) (Chief Medical Officer) (Foreign Secretary) Dominic Cummings Oxford University Oxford University Oxford University Oxford University 2001 1991 1993 1994 Rachel Reeves (Shadow Chancellor of the Anneliese Dodds Duchy of Lancaster) (Shadow Chancellor) Oxford University Oxford University 1998 Neil Ferguson (epidemiologist) Oxford University 1990 Keir Starmer (Leader of the Opposition) Oxford University 1986 Matt Hancock Ed Davey (Health Secretary) (Leader, Lib Dems) Oxford University Oxford University 1996 1988 Michael Gove Rishi Sunak (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) (Chancellor) Oxford University Oxford University 1988 2001 Are lockdowns the medical equivalent of the Maginot Line? Many doctors and scientists believe that lockdowns are counterproductive. Wetherspoon News presents the arguments on pages 4–23. Tim’s Viewpoint Weak leaders follow the crowd – only the brave will stand alone Politicians have become disciples of failed forecasters – and continue to promote lockdowns Johan Giesecke, the ‘Great Recession’ of 2008– country’s highest-paid economy and to mental Swedish epidemiologist, 10 is a fairly recent example. journalist as a young man, and physical health. said in April (interview No sector of the economy then a renowned historian – In addition, as former on page 14) that it was comprises more top-class and, against the odds, rallied Supreme Court judge “fascinating” how deeply university graduates than the country in its darkest hour Jonathan Sumption flawed Imperial College the banks, brokers and fund to battle for survival.
    [Show full text]