To answer the engaged questions and welcome to the dispatch box. Thank you, i have been asked to respond to the Prime Minister, he is making a good recovery and in good spirits. The coronavirus pandemic presents us with one of the Biggest Challenges we have faced is a country in decades. Our message to the British Public is clear, please stay at home to protect in hs and save lives. Is a government we continue to take the right measures guided by the signs and medical experts was i paid tribute to the enormous contributions our nhs and other frontline workers made to tackling this virus, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude and continue to do whatever it takes to support them. The aim is to save lives and incredible support, we are doing that with the peak of this virus. Thank you for your efforts to ensure parliament can meet in private scrutiny and we embrace, the house meets in challenging times and we will defeat this virus. We do wish the Prime Minister a speedy recovery but the house withdrawal, i am welcoming in these folks. Can i thank you, house authorities and staff for allowing us to meet in this way today, it is important to have this scrutiny in our best wishes to the Prime Minister for a fool and speedy recovery, we send our best wishes to all of those affected by coronavirus and to all of those that have lost loved ones. For the whole house, deepest thanks to those on the front lines to keep us safe to keep us going. I promised we would give constructive opposition with courage to support the government where that is the right thing to do and to succeed in defeating coronavirus but we have to have the courage to challenge where we think the government is getting it wrong and in that spirit i want to start with testing. Testing is crucial that every state of the pandemic, we have been very slow, way behind other european countries, the Health Secretary made an important commitment to 100,000 tests a day by the end of april. Yesterday the figure for actual test, 18,000 a day, down from monday, we are way behind the curve, the end of the month this week tomorrow. What does the first secretary expect to happen in the next eight days to get us from 18,000 tests a day to 100,000 tests a day . Congratulate the right honorable gentleman on his success as leader of the labor party. I will pass on his best wishes to the Prime Minister, i know he would want to be here in person and i join him in paying tribute to our frontline workers, the crucial issue of testing will be incredibly important part of the strategy in transitioning from the current social distancing measures but i have to correct him, our capacity for tests is 40,000 per day. That is an important milestone. Hes right to say that in the final week that will require a big increase but with the project like this it requires in a financial increase in the final days in the final week of the program. I can reassure him about a range of commercial partners to boost testing to get to that 100,000 tests a day. Fully functional and glasgow will be opened later this week. Thank you very much, thank you for the kind comments. The figure for the actual tests, the first secretary says the capacity for 40,000 test today and it is important that we fully understand what the secretary said because that means the day before yesterday, 40,000 tests could have been carried out but only 18,000 tests were actually carried out. All week i heard from the frontline from care workers who were desperate for tests for their residents and themselves, they would expect every test be used every day for those that need them. There is clearly a problem. Why is the government using every test available every day . It is important to pay tribute, getting the capacity part of it, making Good Progress and i hope he has conceded the point. The issue of increasing the demand is something weve got control over. Of course we are making sure the eligibility is broadened, our focus i think he would agree should be on frontline nhs staff broadened out to care workers and other key workers and done in a way that the system can manage. We have confidence that based on our test capacity we can deliver that and in relation to the capacity itself a range of issues, the Astrazeneca Cambridge university we will deliver and those tests will be crucial not just in terms of controlling the virus but allowing the country to move to the next phase. I welcome the fact that capacity has gone up. It is not a question of driving up demand, the Health Secretary said every chair worker who needed a test would get one. The position is this, if a care worker has symptoms of coronavirus or a Family Member has symptoms he or she has to self isolate. To travel to a testing center, many miles away. Social care workers in leicester at nottingham, 45 minutes drive, there are lots of examples across the country. There is a problem with that system. They have symptoms of Family Members have symptoms, they couldnt use public transport, theres little wonder, they have pictures of halfempty testing centers, thats not about driving up demand but tests where they are needed. Care workers on the frontline, things improve fast. It is certainly about capacity. It is about demand, we need to encourage those who take the test forward but he is right to say it is about distribution and the logistical and transport challenges, in getting to the test, working with local resilience to make sure it is as effectively as possible. We go to those areas with the hardtoreach, using the army to make along with other key contributions. It is important to have a target and drive towards the target. We are making Good Progress, and should join with me in engaging the National Effort while saying the laborers will help to get it and abandoned the welsh targeting labor on wells. We need to Work Together in all four corners of the United Kingdom, it is all about capacity, it is about distribution. I recognize how hard people are working to drive the number of tests and only eight days left. Sadly died of coronavirus, respected widely across the country, instrumental in building up emergency services. Sadly, one of the many healthcare workers to have died from coronavirus in this crisis. And how many nhs workers died from coronavirus and how many social care workers died from coronavirus . I highly agree with the broader point he makes and key workers in the nhs and social care who are pending for the most vulnerable in society who need full support and that is what is important to ramp up the deliveries. On the latest figures my understanding is 69 people died within the nhs of coronavirus, more difficult to establish in relation and we can all agree, that can only double down our efforts to tackle this virus and do everything we can to support the amazing workers, to take the battle to the coronavirus. I think the secretary for giving us the figure in relation to nhs workers, a tragic case each and every one of them. Im disappointed we dont have a number some social care workers, i will ask the same question again next week. Mister speaker, with risk on the front line, risking their lives to save hours, the least they deserve is the right protective equipment. We heard countless examples of frontline workers not getting equipment, this from a unison care worker and i quote in a nursing home i am terrified, i dont know if residents have a virus. I am very scared. Ive heard that many times in the last few weeks. Half of nursing staff are under pressure to work with higher levels of equipment set out in official guidance. This is a stress test of our resilience and the plan is not working. Can i ask the first secretary to tell frontline workers, when will we get the quitman we need to keep them safe . Can i first say in relation to all those frontline staff who passed away as they battle coronavirus, worked so hard to protect other people who are suffering our hearts go out to them and we must do what we can to protect them. We really had a consultant who passed away at kingston hospital, where they were born and delivered, how important that is, how personal it is to so many of us and we agree on the need to protect them and he will know that getting the ppe where it needs to be is a Massive International challenge the country faces globally from china to germany and we have done a huge effort to provide for example ventilators that bolstered the nhs during these difficult times. Weve not been able to do that. The nhs would not be able to cope and since the start of the outbreak we have delivered 1 billion items, tens of millions from the administration. We recognize we have to strike even harder in this incredibly difficult and Competitive International market. That is why we brought in my friend from dayton, chief executive of the london 2012 ethics who was pointedly on the domestic efforts. We delivered 34 million items of ppe across resilience and established a hotline for procedures and the website to make sure not only we got the amounts of ppe we need but also the most vulnerable and those on the frontline who need it most. I joined the sentiment of the press secretary relations all those working on the frontline and pay tribute to all of those who have been incredible to see what is happening in the next few weeks. I understand the challenge of getting the right equipment to the right place every time, the secretary knows there is a gap between promise and delivery and over the last few days it emerged that british manufacturers got in touch with many members of the opposition, probably members across the house saying they offered to reduce the equal and but didnt respond from the government. I understand do diligence couldnt be taken up but some of those who wanted to help are now supplying to other countries. So clearly they could have supplied in this country and something is going wrong but there is a pattern emerging, we are slowly looking down, slow on testing, so slow on protective equipment and slow to take up the offers from british firms. The Prime Minister said this is a National Effort and he is right about that so in that spirit, the minister commit to operating with the opposition, taken up with manufacturers for protective equipment as soon as possible. The secretary. I think the honorable gentlemen but i dont think we can slow. We have been guided by the chief scientific advisor and chief medical officer in every step of the way. If he thinks he knows better than they do with the benefit of hindsight, that is his decision but that is not the way we proceeded and not the way we will in the future, he mentioned from british businesses, not quite right to say they must have been acceptable by uk standards because of different leads in Different Countries abroad but i can reassure people, 8000 businesses offered ppe in response to the governments call and every business receives a response, 3000 of those 8000 have followed up where they thought the specification or volume that makes it something for the nhs to do and he did make a sensible point about specifications and health standards. He will note from the reporting in other countries that distributed ppe without those high standards, they had to be recalled and Health Workers in those countries had to go into isolation. I appreciate that he wants to put pressure in scrutinizing the government but i hope he will understand the need to take the right decision and scrutinize very carefully the precious ppe we are putting on the frontline to protect our key workers. David mendel would be unable to connect with his first of two questions. Ian blackburn. Thank you, mister speaker. The Courtney Kube the covid19 pandemic continues but we are reminded of the terrible toll it takes on our society but also of the heroic efforts by frontline workers and i would like to take the opportunity to put on record our gratitude for everything they do. Mister speaker, it is 64 days since the chancellor announced a package of economic support, a package of support for all businesses and workers during this Health Emergency and yet thousands of businesses and individuals found themselves with no income, no support and no end insight and all because of arbitrary cutoff dates and barriers caused by the uk government. People are being left behind. Today, the National Party leaving a corrupt party call for universal basic income to finally protect everyone. It will put cash in peoples pockets and help ensure strong economic recovery. The first secretary of state give us a straight answer today. Does he support the proposal or does he reject it . Thank you, mister speaker. I pay tribute along with the honorable gentlemen to the workers that served every one of our nations and in relation to scotland the we recognize the uk efforts to tackle coronavirus, the helicopters helping scottish patients get treatment in scotland setting up test centers in glascow and 1 million items of personal equipment that were delivered from central uk government stock to make sure as when United Kingdom we defeat the coronavirus. I dont agree with the point on universal income. The chancellor quite rightly adopted and series of measures second to none in the world to support workers and through the attention scheme to make sure those who dont qualify increase universal credit and working tax credit are able to deal with the challenge and we need to have a very focused approach providing resources to those that need it most and universal income would provide that. Ian blackburn. The simple fact is many people are being left behind, many people are not getting an income, a universal basic income is the right Economic Policy at the right time. The time has come. 100 members of parliament, Political Parties from across the four nations and regions of the United Kingdom have come to 2 together to support the solution. Polling shows 84 of the public now support this. Universal basic income is a solution that will support anybody crucially, it will leave no one behind. A solution that deserves more than the answer we got just now. The government should think again, shouldnt be left in a situation that the self employed, Seasonal Workers and others dont get the support they deserve, the government, do the right thing, make sure no one is left behind. Yes or no . Secretary, i think the right honorable gentlemen but i make clear we want to provide support to those who need it most was a universal approach uniform without reference to need or income is not the way and i respectfully suggest to achieve it. Our plan is one of the most extensive in the world. It makes your workers, 80 of their salary, 2500 pounds, we extended this to june, we made other forms of support for those who dont qualify, talks about the self employed or others, i made clear the increased universal credit and working tax credit, the mortgage, the energy bills, that is the way we have an approach that is targeting the resources to those who need the most and allow the economy as a whole to go through the coronavirus. We are now going over to peter. Mister speaker. In this time of National Emergency many people are forced to use their Bank Overdrafts yet the banks are charging 20 interest per year, going to increase to 40 in july. At the same time, they are offering a frantic Interest Rate on 0. One yet these are the same banks that were saved by billions of pounds of taxpayer money. What on earth is going on . When are the banks going to act in the National Interest . I think the secretary can get the best mister secretary, i think the honorable friend, i got the just and he is right to refer to the support banks need to be providing to customers and thanks to the work of the chancellor, they have provided relief to those impacted by coronavirus including d3 mortgages of the loan payments and increasing overdraft and increasing credit card limits. By the first week of april, 1. 2 million mortgage payment holidays have been granted and in this National Effort as we pay tribute to those across the country stepping up to the plate we expect the bank to do better. We are now going over to lucy powell. Thank you, mister speaker. Like some and hundreds more in manchester, nearly three quarters dont qualify for grants in the hospitality and Retail Sector are the lifeblood of our sector, the longest enforced closure. Will he extend cash grants and come up with a rescue package for hopes, restaurants, shops and venues from disappearing altogether . First secretary. I think the honorable lady and agree about the challenge weve got across all sectors she mentioned in making sure we see them through this difficult period and make sure the country, the economy, Small Businesses and sectors she mentioned can bounce back. The chancellor introduced a range of measures in relation to finance grants where they are capable of being made and other tax deferrals to enable Small Business and any particular businesses take them away and make sure the chancellor can assess if theres any more we can do. We got to make sure to those sectors which are adding huge value to the economy the we are in position after the coronavirus once we come through the initial crisis to bounce back and look after all those Small Businesses and sectors she rightly described. We are going over to sully and part. Beautiful hastings heavily dependent on tourism as a major driver in the local economy. Covid19 badly had the tourism, leisure and hospitality industry. Have my right honorable friends considered what measures are needed to encourage Domestic Tourism and secondly, ensure the tourism and tourism related businesses are getting the right support to enable recovery from the impact of covid19 and revive our local economies . First secretary. My honorable friend makes an important point. We know that the coronavirus is accepting the tourist industry. That was the point made by the previous honorable lady as well as the chancellor set out support for businesses and workers including those in the material sector, business rate support for hospitality and leisure businesses, we also announced 1. 3 Million Pounds scheme to visit england to provide support to management organizations that receive closure because of the coronavirus pandemic seen through this difficult time and we are committed to helping the industry get through this crisis to encourage people to take holidays and revive the Tourism Sector as we come through the crisis. Barry gardner. The Government Scientific Advisory Group on emergency is recommended urgent lockdown to save lives on the 20 sixth of february but it took another 3 and a half weeks to implement. The government likes to claim that it has been following the scientific advice but it hasnt, has it . First secretary. We have increased stage from january when the crisis started to break out in china, and social distancing measures followed particularly carefully the advice from key scientific advisor and chief medical officer and as a result of the measures we put in place two things have happened. It hasnt been overwhelmed, i pay tribute not just key workers but huge sacrifice made by the British Public because of compliance with social distancing measures. It only happened because weve taken the right decisions based on evidence we had at the right moment in time and that is what we continue to do. Now we go to nick fletcher. One step the government has taken to make sure the nhs are adequately supplied equipment. It is critically important, i agree with him on the imminent need of getting their ppe, since the start of the outbreak we delivered 1. 3 billion items for personal protective equal in, make sure we distributed it that all four nations get the women they need as we are working through local business forums, and nhs key workers on the frontline and other workers that everyone who needs it is getting the ppe they need and with help of milo noble friend lord dayton we are going to ramp up even further capacity to not just procure and produce ppe to get to where it is needed most. In a time of National Crisis it is critical the government, local councils are insured communities get the support they need, the work taking place in bradford, will he confirm the promise to fund whatever is necessary is fully confident them for all the costs related to the covid19 crisis, not just funding announced not only partially what councils have done. First secretary. I pay tribute to the councils up and down through social care and what they provided residents. I can assure the honorable lady we announced an additional 1. 6 billion pounds to support in the age the northeast hospice. First secretary. Record funding enshrined in law, the Largest Program in a generation. In response to the coronavirus, coronavirus Emergency Response of 6. 6 billion, in relation to the northeast. And nhs infrastructure, looking carefully at all of those. We are going to stephen conduct. The steelworks is beating heart of the economy. There will be no post Pandemic Recovery honestly have strong and healthy, and 50 Million Pounds is only one tenth of what will be the cash flow impact. The government urgently take steps to lift the loan caps, a fighting chance of surviving this crisis. The Business Interruption loans, available for Small Businesses. We are seeing changes to the loan scheme. The chancellor is looking carefully, and all of those directly benefiting all of this scheme to make sure the round is providing the measures we see in a targeted way that crucial elements of the economy. One of the most striking features, the way in which so many publicprivate and other organizations put themselves out of shape to deal with the pandemic not least in our own constituency. The spirit of the british people and outline the essential ingredient to getting our country through this. The challenge we have not faced, and it is an incredible National Effort. Not just nhs workers, but also, people understanding more and more are part of the key workers, people working in the supermarket and all of those steering us through this time of National Crisis, they can rise to the challenge, im confident we will rise to the challenge as one United Kingdom stronger than ever. For weeks there has been a significant, the reality that has been experienced by our constituents, so when will the government learn from the delays they experienced so far, learn from other countries, when will they learn from the best in crisis decision making. First secretary, actually with an unprecedented crisis, there is no country in the world addressing the crisis, an incredible achievement in this country. People said we couldnt build a hospital in this country at that speed. We built several with more to come, that we wouldnt be able to personal protective equipment, there are no challenges and she is right to make the point, the lesson says we go. Going along a deliberate way, listening to the efforts and advice from the chief scientific advisor, how they get through this crisis. It is worth noting that one of the big risks, the fear that we find the nhs overwhelmed. When you look at Critical Care capacity, and individual achievements as institutions held up well and that is a good example how we have risen to this challenge and continue to do so. We are going to nicola richards. Thank you, 100 constituents only in india during the pandemic which is why i welcome the bold commitment to international partners, and the progress of this scheme. First secretary. We have been working flat out with the Foreign OfficeInternational Network on that, working with foreign governments and airlines, we returned over 1 million british nationals, and we also introduced, a whole range of international uk airline signed up to it. 10,000 on supplies, in the last few weeks they had 52 flights to get 10,000 back from 16 countries including 5000 from india. India, pakistan and bangladesh. . In an answer, a consultant who died at kingston hospital, my local hospital, the consultants name was Anton Sebastian billi, who came to the uk after qualifying as a doctor in sri lanka in 1967. He worked in the nhs for decades and was treating coronavirus patients and sadly died. He was the best of us. On behalf of and one, nhs and care workers who made the ultimate sacrifice for others and learned lessons urgently have a future pandemic, will the government commit itself now for a future independent judge letting corey into how the crisis has been handled. I joined him in the tribute he made to doctor Anton Sebastian i have been treated there by the incredible work they do. I wont take up his offer of committing to a public inquiry. To get through this crisis it will be important to come together to understand with an unprecedented challenge on International Scale to avoid it happening again. From our key nhs front line workers, i would expect our fool focus to come to the peak of the focus to make sure we save lives, protect the nhs and steer the country through this crisis. We now go over to faye jones. The army has played a vital role in the uk response to the coronavirus. He may not know, the joint military command in my constituency. They have been supporting them around the country with regional help boards. Will the fed secretary, and first secretary. One of the questions in relation to scotland. Looking at all four corners of the United Kingdom in particular wales. It built the hospitals, delivered it to where it needs it most along with other key workers, we pay tribute to the fact that the uk armed forces in all four corners of the United Kingdom helping to deliver the coronavirus challenge. Lets go to liz roberts. One nation or region past the peak. We will see confusion and people running around and that run the risk of further infection. If the formation approach is to be meaningful, the governments must have equal say, the lockdown can only happen by the unanimous agreement of the four governments together. First secretary. Paying tribute to the administration in northern ireland, scotland and wales, i am fair to say excellent cooperation between all four nations and with the current mayor of london. That is quickly important. If she looks at the social distancing measures there has been remarkable consistency in all four nations in compliance, continue to Work Together on a collaborative basis as we look towards the second fate on behalf of the uk government. Going across to doctor luke evans, doctor luke evans. World renowned for the consolation work, protecting endangered species, endangered itself with 650,000 pounds a month with no income coming in. They are asking 100 Million Pounds for health care for animals. Just like animals they protect, they learn from them in the future. First secretary. I think my honorable friend and agree with his question, all the incredible animals on display for all of us and im pleased to announce as a result a engagement and consultation we announce a new Zoo Support Fund which will be launched, able to provide dedicated support alongside that made available by the treasury to care for animals during this crisis. Those whos concern to look at the rate of Financial Support already available but also make contact with officials to make sure how it can be tailored for them. Now to the final question. Thank you, mister speaker. The uk in 18 countries endorsed a comprehensive communique on covid19 and Global Pandemic preparedness. This muchneeded action plan was vetoed by the usa, on the World Health Organization. The Prime Ministers reported to have spoken to donald trump yesterday. Can the right honorable gentlemen assure the task, britain believes the World Health Organization is critical to the future of Global Health security. This country will not be drawn into the us president s disgraceful vendetta against the World Health Organization. I assure the right honorable lady we support the interNational Effort. It is getting through the global crisis. We recognize there is a role to play, it is not perfect, no institution is. We consider it, an the president s, just released by in paperback. In oured in a ranking much cited president ial historian survey. Is it our website visit our website and order your copy today wherever books are sold. For the first time in four weeks, the u. S. House meets for legislative work thursday to debate and vote on nearly 500 billion more in coronavirus pandemic response. This fourth round of funding would go to the Small Business loan program, hospitals and virus testing. Watch live gaveltogavel coverage of the house getting at 10 00 eastern on cspan. Governor Gretchen Witmer talked with the possibility of extending her stayathome order with slightly less restrictions at a News Conference in lansing. She gave an update on the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the state and efforts to securemore medical supplies. Secure more medical supplies. Good afternoon. Today is wednesday, april 22. Im joined by our chief medical executive