the ctc recorded on a daily basis, the ctc has suggested the deaths in care homes is double what was recorded yesterday. can he ensure testing is insured for nhs staff, it is ludicrous to expect care workers to drive miles and miles for testing. can he ensure ppa supply systems for the nhs system is now expanded to the nhs system is now expanded to the social care system? we need to be pursuing the preventative agenda with much more vigour than we have been, perhaps, and making sure that ppe is available on so that the staff can protect themselves as well

there e—mail, he said we are now part of it but i will be not part of it in the beginning? someone in the foreign office said it was a political decision. could he tell us what went on? could he publish all the background briefings so we can see exactly what happened and he can reassure us see exactly what happened and he can reassure us that appropriate... finally, on testing i agree with

him. testing and contact tracing is vital in lockdown so he talks about wanting to upscaled contact tracing. that is very labour—intensive. can we use the 750,000 volunteers who have signed up to do some of that contact tracing? the app is welcome, when will it be welcome? will the app be mandatory or will it be volu nta ry? app be mandatory or will it be voluntary? if it is voluntary how will we ensure that is taken up by the population? and on testing can he comment on the reports today that one of the pcr tests which has been used for some nhs staff return false results and those staff have had to be tested again? how many have been affected by this and what is now in place to ensure that doesn't happen again as well? if you cannot answer all of these points today i hope perhaps you can write to me —— he cannot answer all the city. write to me for the details. thank you very much, cani me for the details. thank you very much, can i thank the secretary of

state for the approach that he has taken, bringing state for the approach that he has ta ken, bringing scrutiny state for the approach that he has taken, bringing scrutiny but done so ina tone taken, bringing scrutiny but done so in a tone that makes clear that right across this house, we are united in our efforts to tackle this virus. he asks specifically the number of social care staff who sadly died. the number is that 15 social care staff have sadly lost their lives. and in the same way that we pay tribute to and we remember all of those nhs staff who have died, so too do weave for those who have served our country and look after people in social care. he asked the question about the relative, the international comparisons of the number of deaths. of course this needs to be done scientifically, taking into account the size of the populations of different countries. there is an

important analysis that we are co nsta ntly important analysis that we are constantly doing of why the death rate as a portion of the population in germany is lower, something i speak to my german counterpart about. in the same way that we look at all the countries in europe where the death rate is higher and we try to learn also lessons to make sure that we are doing the best that we possibly can hear. there are many explanations for germany and one of them that the german health minister explains in both public and in private is the nature of those who first caught the disease in germany, but there is analysis, and off a lot of analysis of why and we constantly look at this question to improve our delivery here. he asked about the seven day rule, the proposals through sage. sage of course as an

advisory committee and it advises ministers. we are guided by the science throughout this. and the science throughout this. and the science recommends the 70 rule on returning to —— the seven day rule. returning to normal, not normal by any returning to normal, not normal by a ny stretch returning to normal, not normal by any stretch but coming out of full—blown isolation on somebody has had the disease if they no longer have symptoms. that is the scientific advice. and the basis on which that decision was taken which precisely as he says that we listened to the advice from sage and then we take the decisions based on it. and that was one where we fully accepted the advice as we do most of these he is right that the biggest impact

of this is on the respiratory system. it's not the only impact and i will seek to take up his suggestion that the key clinical figures are convened. i think that the royal colleges are doing this already but i will check that that is happening. similarly, he asked the question about the disproportionate number of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in the figures of those who died. we are indeed investigating that and i will make sure that he has a copy of the results of that investigation as soon as it is concluded. it is a very important piece of work. in the same way that there is a disproportionate number of men who are badly affected by this disease compared to women. we need to look at all of these characteristics and make sure we have the full analysis, so we can learn how to treat. he

asked about care homes. all deaths in care homes of course are recorded. the figures, the difference in the figures between the figures produced by the c0 sea, the figures produced by the c0 sea, the office for national statistics and the nhs. those figures measure different things at different time frames. it is very important to look ata frames. it is very important to look at a vigorous analysis of the three. yesterday there was some debate about whether the ons figures showed when you measured debts outside hospitals were 40% higher. it turned out that wasn't true, it was comparing apples and pears in the realfigure is comparing apples and pears in the real figure is close to 20%. so i would just precaution him against comparing the headline figures without a true comparison of the underlying statistics. he asked about the testing of staff. i'm really pleased that we have managed

to roll out testing to staff in care homes. he is absolutely right that that can hopefully be done through mobile units and through the home testing kits that are increasingly available. especially for care homes that aren't close to one of the drive—through centres. although now we have 20 seven drive—through centres, we are increasing that number of the next few days. —— 27 drive—through centres. he asked about ppe quite rightly and there is about ppe quite rightly and there is a new service that is coming on strea m a new service that is coming on stream directly to be able to provide the ppe that care homes and domiciliary care, so care provided in people's homes, that that needs, asi in people's homes, that that needs, as i say, increasing this supply has been a massive logistical undertaking. with over a billion items are ppe delivered so far. and

a couple of other questions that he asked. he asked about the amount of spare capacity in the nhs. there are over 10,000 beds currently free in the nhs. and we are therefore, we wa nt to the nhs. and we are therefore, we want to reopen the nhs to non—coronavirus symptoms and to patients with non—coronavirus conditions. safely and carefully as soon as it is safe to do so. but the first step that we are taking is to send the message loud and clear to people who have suspected conditions that they should come forward if you think you might have a lump that might bea think you might have a lump that might be a cancer then you should come forward now and you will be safely and properly treated in the nhs. the same goes if you have a suspected heart attack or stroke. we have the systems in place to make sure that if you come to the nhs you will be looked after and protected.

and we will gradually reopen the rest of the nhs, for instance, to the sort of nonlife threatening elective surgery done the honourable member mentioned as soon as it is safe to do so. but as he can see, the combination of having some spare capacity in the nhs and at the same time of having reached the peak of the virus means that we can now start to reopen the nhs. part of thatis start to reopen the nhs. part of that is encouraging people to seek nhs treatment when they need it. finally, mr speaker, he mentioned contact tracing. the app is currently in beta trials in those trials are going well. but clearly an app to tell you who you have been in contact with if you test positive for coronavirus is helpful. but what we also need is mass contact tracing so that as we bring the rate of

transmission down and the rate of testing up, so that everybody test positive we can contact all of the people they have been in contact with, make sure they get access to support and they know what to do and that way we can control this virus with fewer of the very extraordinary social distancing measures that have beenin social distancing measures that have been in place. i'm told we can speed a little bit on the answer. i know you want to be thorough but we have quite a few to get through. i think it was twice as long as a question, that was a problem. can i know go to the chair of the select committee jeremy hunt. the chair of the select committee jeremy hunt. thank you, mr speaker. the world health organization say that one of the six essential criteria for lifting a lockdown is that we should be able to track and trace every single new covid—19 case in the community. can i ask the

health secretary, will that be in place in the next two weeks so that when the cabinet comes to consider whether they want to lift the lockdown, they are able to do so in a way that is compliant with what the who are recommending. and will he appoint a big hitter from the who are recommending. and will he appoint a big hitterfrom outside front line politics to really make sure that this happens in a really short period of time, as he is very sensibly done on ppe. i'm grateful, mr speaker. the answer is that we are ramping up our testing capacity and our capacity for contact tracing ina and our capacity for contact tracing in a matter of weeks. and we will haveit in a matter of weeks. and we will have it ready to make sure that we can use that as and when the incidence of transmission comes down. it isn't as tied to the specific decision that we are required by law to take in just over two weeks's time. the effectiveness

of test track and trace to keep the reproductive rate of this virus down is determined by the incidents in the community. and our goal is to get to a point where we can test, track and trace everybody who needs it. we are now going to philippa whitford. thank you very much by speaker. like all mps i would like to pay thanks to care staff across the uk but particular in care of —— in the role of care staff will effective stay undertake to ensure that they are paid at least the real living wage in recognition of their contribution, as has been the case for some years in scotland? like everyone, i welcome the sterilisation of covid—19 cases but does he accept that the testing can contact tracing must actually be in place before any easing of the lockdown to avoid resurgence and a second peak? so will he achieve

100,000 tests a day by next week? if not, when? and how accurate are the tests in light of the report of a 2596 tests in light of the report of a 25% false negative? i know the secretary of state is a fan of phone apps. secretary of state is a fan of phone apps, so i'm glad to hear him recognise the need to increase public health staff to both conduct and help coordinate contact tracing. so will he reverse the 20% cuts in public health funding in england since 2015 to ensure that they can be recruited now? finally, when i raised the issue on the 11th of march he claimed it was rare. but it is active at 50%. so how is he taking that into account in his covert taking that into account in his cove rt 19 taking that into account in his covert 19 strategy? —— in his covid—19 strategy? covert 19 strategy? —— in his covid-19 strategy? the honourable lady asks a number of questions. firstly on the living wage

absolutely all health staff in the uk are paid the living wage because thatis uk are paid the living wage because that is the law. i'm very proud that we introduced the living wage. and that has led to a significant rise in the pay of especially people in social care who were on the minimum wage previously. she asks about asymptomatic transmission, the scientific evidence on asymptomatic transmission does show that asymptomatic transmission occurs. that is one of the very significant challenges that this virus presents. she also talked about, asked about the test, track and trace. i absolutely agree that it is a critical part of keeping the spread of this virus low. it is more effective the lower the incidence, the lower the number of new cases are, the more effective test, track

and trace is. and we are therefore building now the capacity for that very large scale contact tracing thatis very large scale contact tracing that is necessary to go alongside the large—scale testing, the 100,000 asi the large—scale testing, the 100,000 as i said in my statement at the end of this month and also the technology that can help us to do that. thank you, mr speaker. it is important that decisions should be informed by good advice. so has the scientific advisory group advised on whether the 100,000 tests a day targets the right one? the target set is 100,000 was because that is what we estimated was needed. there we re what we estimated was needed. there were scientific advice provided into

that target. but also what is practically achievable, as i said, we are ahead of our trajectory on capacity but we need to make sure that demand increases. you know, increasing demand is about widening access to this testing. we did take scientific advice. i'm not sure if that came directly through the sage route or directly from public health england. but of course these decisions are based on the science. first of all, i want to pay tribute very briefly to all those health workers, care workers, delivery drivers and cleaners and all the other people who are doing such an incredible job together with all the volu nteers incredible job together with all the volunteers to deal with this crisis. i think it's an amazing moment in this country's history. however, parliament'sjob is this country's history. however, parliament's job is to this country's history. however, parliament'sjob is to hold government to account on the question i want to ask is quite

simply this, the world health organization indicated that there was a danger of an epidemic from coronavirus in january. was a danger of an epidemic from coronavirus injanuary. they later declared it to be a pandemic. the director—general of the world health organization said in terms of the way of dealing with it is test, test, test in order to ascertain the levels of infection across our society. we didn't do that. the secretary of state came to the house injanuary secretary of state came to the house in january to say he secretary of state came to the house injanuary to say he was going to increase the amount of testing. it was raised with the prime minister on the 24th of february. it was raised again with the prime minister in the meeting we had which he was present at in march. he told us then the level of testing would increase. it is still nowhere near the level thatis it is still nowhere near the level that is necessary. can he assure us that is necessary. can he assure us that there is going to be a really rapid increase in the level of testing and the availability of testing and the availability of testing to get on top of this dreadful virus? the development of testing has been at pace throughout

this crisis. entirely contrary to the story told by the right honourable gentleman. at the limit we we re honourable gentleman. at the limit we were one of the first countries in the world to develop a test, we rapidly increase the number of tests to 10,000, a multiple of five times during march. and now going up further. this is an area where we have had our foot further. this is an area where we have had ourfoot on further. this is an area where we have had our foot on the gas all the way through because it is incredibly important. thank you, mr speaker. i'm grateful to the secretary of state for a statement. would he can only update the house on the provision of a new covid—19 testing site in north wales and the uk government's role in delivering that in the context of devolution? yes, testing is an area where there are uk and devolved responsibilities. and the testing sites, the

drive—through is, they have been provided right across the uk. it is a programme that is driven by the government here with the support of the devolved authorities. i think making sure that there is testing available in north wales is incredibly important and as it is right across the country. especially so that people can get access to those tests as he has said. i'd also mention the home testing that will be done through the post, which of course will also be available, especially in more rural areas like his constituency. that might be one of the most effective ways for people to be able to get access to testing. hilary benn. thank you very much indeed mr speaker. it seems increasingly likely that part of what will beale require to tackle this virus in future will be the wearing of masks by members of the

public in certain situations. if the government comes to the point based on scientific advice that's recommended, as the government's policy to provide masks to the public and if so what is his plan to source them, given the difficulties we have seen with ppe supply, or will members of the public be expected to source their own? we will follow the advice, we will listen to what the sage advisory group says on masks, and then we will implement that. i can't promise that we will give everybody free masks. that would be an extraordinary undertaking and we do have to make sure that we have supplies available, especially for health and care staff wear less scientific advice throughout has been that the wearing of masks is necessary in those circumstances and we have got to make sure the provision is therefore them. chris

grayling. thank you mr speaker. i could i start by paying tribute to the excellent staff in the nhs tackling this dreadful disease. can i say that i absolutely agree with him that it should be business as usual as close as possible. there are many people who work in our health care, physiotherapists etc, not business as usual. can he do everything he can to support those people and get them back working as soon as possible? yes, absolutely, this is incredibly important that we support nhs staff to get back to work as much as possible, if they have been in an area where the demand has fallen and because people have been not coming forward in the same numbers that they normally do,

for instance for emergency admission. or they have been in a specialism where we have not been able to undertake the work because of the prevalence of the virus. he makes an incredibly important point andi makes an incredibly important point and i can give him that assurance. lucy powell. thank you. at present, only patients actually admitted to hospital with symptoms are being swabbed, leaving many... covid—19 being disparaged into the community. at the same time only health care workers with current symptoms are being tested. should the priority to beta test all patients and all health and workers whether symptomatic or not, given that after one month of loughton, hospitals and ca re one month of loughton, hospitals and care homes are likely to be the major transmission hotspots? mr

speaker, we are testing all those who leave hospital to go to a care home setting. to make sure that we control the spread of the disease and spread stop it moving from that route is much as possible. but on the broader point is absolutely things we're looking at, she makes good points. the secretary of state is making sure all patients being discharged from hospital to care homes are being tested but there remains concerns in the care home sector that normal procedures to make sure patients coming to them or new residents are appropriate for the care setting? because our emergency admissions taking place. before easter he very kindly agreed to look at the question of whether ca re to look at the question of whether care homes could be indemnified or have some kind of waiver of

liability in the circumstances, i wonder whether he had reached a conclusion? yes, mr speaker, we are looking into that question and i will write to my right honourable friend as soon as we have an answer. caroline lucas. on contact tracing i welcome the fact he is working with experts in digital ethics because if it is not run transparently by a public company with code open to public company with code open to public oversight and data and anonymized, people will not trust the system and it risks failing but does he agree that only a community led process of human contact racing can provide the fine grade and reliable data that such an app would depend on and will he learn lesson from the overcentralised organisation of the testing approach and instead adopt a more decentralised approach for contact tracing using local environmental health officers and phd regional outreach management teams?”

health officers and phd regional outreach management teams? i agree with the first two points which is the importance of people for contact tracing as well as technology and in fa ct tracing as well as technology and in fact the two work hand—in—hand will be the most effective approach. i also agree with the need for the emphasis around this, ethics. we are giving a lot of, the data needs to be considered in that context. but we are making sure that is done in a way that can provide assurance to people with concerns in that area. on the final point we have got to make the appropriate use of national and of local resources in testing, for instance, organising drive—through centres across the country and testing is inevitably an issue that needs to be done centrally and other testing laboratories are organised locally,

it is about getting the best of both worlds. laura trott. the secretary of state has talked today about the test track and trace strategy. determined by incidents in the community. can he give a site guidance on what this incidence level as and when based on current modelling we might achieve it? the current level of incidents is unknown until we expand testing yet further. but it is far higher than when it needs to be. although as i said, we are at a peak and when it needs to be. although as i said, we are ata peak and have high confidence we are at a peak in this but we need to see that come down. it isa but we need to see that come down. it is a question of degree. the reason i am not giving a numerical

a nswer reason i am not giving a numerical answer is because it is a question of degree. the fewer new cases, the more effective test track and trace are keeping the disease down and therefore the more social—distancing measures can be lifted. this is all a question of degree and we do not have an answer to the question of when that well all be doable because we have not yet seen the curve start to come down and we don't know the pace at which that curve will come down under the current social—distancing rules. down under the current social-distancing rules. barry sherman. can i say to the secretary of state who hired known since he came into parliament, i know he has been unwell but he would expect me to be robust in my question. looking from the yorkshire point of view, i think the management and leadership of this president crisis has been

shambolic. —— present crisis. i believe we should not have been in a position where we lag so far behind germany, a similar country to errors, and behind many other european nations we are predicted to be the worst. 823 people died, two jumbojets be the worst. 823 people died, two jumbo jets of crashes. that is a large number and the fact of the matter is, every time the secretary of state speaks, he thinks it's a triumph, what he is doing. i believe it isa triumph, what he is doing. i believe it is a shambles and leadership and management, i think we are letting down nhs staff and we have been let down nhs staff and we have been let down and indeed i am particularly cross and angry at the fact that i understand that those early whistle—blowers were so lent on and threatened with disciplinary action that was to stop brave young doctors and nurses standing up and telling it what it was like on the front line. is that the fact and can he get his act together? because many

of us do not believe that he is telling the truth to the people of this country. mr speaker, i think that the member who just spoke com pletely that the member who just spoke completely mrs the tone and has missed the point of what we are trying to do as a nation, to pull together and this time of great difficulty. —— misses the point. it is absolutely the case that our prime goals are to flatten the carbon nature the nhs always, always has the capacity to treat those who need it. those two objectives have thus far been met and of course there are challenges, enormous challenges, distributing 1 billion pieces of ppe is not straightforward. on the point of it whistle—blowers, he is completely wrong to say that it is not possible to raise an issue within the nhs by

contrast, thousands of people