willjoin me in wishing lord house willjoin me in wishing lord norman fowler a very happy 80th birthday. he was in inspirational form than health secretary, a fearless advocate for tackling hiv and knows the importance of tackling early and the power of testing. as we face these difficult weeks we can draw inspiration from that great struggle that even iam i am grateful to the secretary of state for advanced sight of his statement. can i thank you mr speakerfor statement. can i thank you mr speaker for putting statement. can i thank you mr speakerfor putting in place facilities for testing on the estate. we are extremely grateful for that initiative. i also extend my best wishes to the lord speaker as well on his birthday today. the news that the south african variant has been identified in eight different local authority areas is alarming and suggest significant community transmission. can i ask

him to run through the timelines? when did these 11 cases test positive, and how long does the genetic sequencing take, and when was he told of these cases? can these processes be made speedier? and so for example that the ealing case tested positive in late december. these variants bring into focus the importance of border controls. times radio reports that quarantine arrangements for hotels won't be in place until the 15th of february. why the delay? according to the times newspaper, sage weeks ago said tougher quarantine arrangements were needed. will he publish at this stage minutes from the 21st of january? i welcome the extra testing, but can i suggest it was further? people move beyond postcode boundaries. they go shopping, many still have to go to work. will he therefore roll—out

testing in neighbouring postcodes? he wants to come down hard on this variant, but isn't the lesson of mass testing, such as in liverpool, that people are hesitant to take a test if they aren't compensated for any loss of income associated with self isolation? we are fighting this virus with one hand tied behind our back, asking the low pay to go hungry in order not to spread the virus. transmission change will be broken without decent sick pay and isolation support. we have seen the kents variant spread with speed. public health england's latest technical briefing reports that the sequences with the mutation seen in the south african variant. this has not been identified. this is very worrying because this mutation, which is thought to be behind the partial vaccine evasion. to suggest

a further act —— action would be needed. germany, austria and france recommend anything f f p two facemasks in transport and shops. will he now review the evidence and look at this? on vaccination i congratulate the nhs. not all care homes have been vaccinated. those with the covid outbreak of not been vaccinated for understandable reasons. how many of these care homes are outstanding? there are reports of some care staff turning down vaccination. can he tell us how many care staff have been vaccinated and will he ensure the nhs collect data on the number turning down vaccination so we can target and overcome vaccine hesitancy more effectively? public health services have an important role in tackling vaccine hesitancy. when will public health directors know their allocation for the next financial year? unicef have warned that children are not the face of this

pandemic, but the rest being amongst its biggest victims. i accept it was inevitable that schools would close given community transmission levels, but that doesn't make it any less devastating. we are depriving young people of social interaction, of play with their friends. learning is not the same, mental health problems are increasing. there will be children in homes where there is violence or substance misuse. how many teachers will be vaccinated as part of bands five to 29 and how many children and support staff will have to wait for the period between easter and summer to be vaccinated? last summer it was reported 25,000 teachers have been off sick related to covid, further disrupting �*s learning. how can he ensure we don't see the same destruction again from march when it is hoped schools return? finally, this is indeed hiv testing week. over the weekend i

pinch watched its sustain. i was in tears. thankfully, hiv is not a death sentence today. people living with hiv are in phase six for vaccination, but only if they have disclose their hiv status to their gp. many haven't and still don't want to because of the stigma we saw betrayed in its ascent. kelly ensured that people living with hiv are able to access vaccination at their hiv clinic? just are able to access vaccination at their hiv clinic?— are able to access vaccination at their hiv clinic? just to answer the honourable — their hiv clinic? just to answer the honourable gentleman's _ their hiv clinic? just to answer the honourable gentleman's many - honourable gentleman's many questions, he is absolutely right to raise the importance of coming down hard on the cases of new variants that we have discovered here in the uk, and these are cases that have

been seen over the past two months. the action that we are putting into place is action to make sure that we stop further spread and further spread in the community, alongside the action taken to ensure that there is no spread from those who have got a history of international travel. as a news report tougher action at the border and we stand ready to do more. he asks for the sage ministers to be published. they are published regularly. he also asked for the neighbouring postcodes to those postcodes where angie barry case has been found, we do that where it is epidemiologically sensible. if the cases found on the border of postcode obviously we go across that border. we also investigate linked premises, for instance if somebody had a child at the school or is going to work in a

particular workplace, and then working with the director of public health we will ensure that testing is directed there as well. he raises theissue is directed there as well. he raises the issue of isolation payments and we have the 500 point isolation payment in place, so nobody needed, as he put it, nobody should go hungry because they have to isolate. what is critical in these areas is that people stay—at—home unless they absolutely have to. it is imperative that people follow the rules to get these new variants completely under control. he asks on the care home success, i'm delighted that we have been able to reach so many care homes. i sat in my statement that we had reached 10,307 care homes, that is in england. there are 110 care homes where the vaccination programme is still outstanding because they have had outbreaks. for clinical reasons, the vaccination

programme can't start there, but it will as soon as it is clinically possible. he also asked about the data being shared from the vaccination programme. that data is now routinely shared with local directors of public health precisely for the reason that he set out, so we can reach all parts. finally he ends on the question of education. of ends on the question of education. of course we understand how challenging the impact of this lockdown is on those with children who have to be schooled at home, and that is why the prime minister has said that schools should be the first thing to open when it is safe and possible to do so. sadly, that time isn't yet, but the more that we all followed the rules that we have set out so clearly, the quicker that time will come.— time will come. video link to the chair of the _ time will come. video link to the chair of the health _ time will come. video link to the chair of the health select - chair of the health select committee, jeremy hunt. thank you.

can i thank the _ committee, jeremy hunt. thank you. can i thank the health _ committee, jeremy hunt. thank you. can i thank the health secretary - committee, jeremy hunt. thank you. can i thank the health secretary for l can i thank the health secretary for lazing with me on the issues in surrey over the weekend when the actions taken by him and the outstanding leader of the county council were absolutely right. he mentioned that at the weekend we reached the milestone of offering the vaccine to everyone in care homes etc where there has been an outbreak. does he agree that we should that achievement by making 2,000 and 201i should that achievement by making 2,000 and 2011 hear as significant for the social care sector as 19118 was for the nhs when it was founded with a long—term financial settlement implementing, setting it up settlement implementing, setting it up for the future with a ten year plan? up for the future with a ten year ian? ~ ., , , , up for the future with a ten year ian? , ., ., plan? maybe -- my right honourable friend knows — plan? maybe -- my right honourable friend knows that _ plan? maybe -- my right honourable friend knows that we _ plan? maybe -- my right honourable friend knows that we set _ plan? maybe -- my right honourable friend knows that we set out - plan? maybe -- my right honourable friend knows that we set out in - plan? maybe -- my right honourable friend knows that we set out in our l friend knows that we set out in our manifesto, committed in the manifesto, committed in the manifesto and were elected on a manifesto and were elected on a manifesto to resolve the

long—standing problems in social care. the prime minister has set out the liaison committee of which he of course is a member. the timetable on which he hopes that we are able to deliver on that commitment. alongside dealing with this pandemic, we are working to deliver our manifesto commitments, whether it is on social care or the a0 new hospitals, orthe it is on social care or the a0 new hospitals, or the 50,000 more nurses. i look forward to being held to account by the select committee on those commitments.— to account by the select committee on those commitments. video linked to the snp spokesperson, _ on those commitments. video linked to the snp spokesperson, doctor - to the snp spokesperson, doctor philippa — to the snp spokesperson, doctor philippa whitford.— philippa whitford. thank you. i would like _ philippa whitford. thank you. i would like to _ philippa whitford. thank you. i would like to associate - philippa whitford. thank you. i would like to associate myself| philippa whitford. thank you. i - would like to associate myself with the secretary of state because my comments on hiv test week, but it is very concerning to hear that over 100 cases of the south african variants have been detected in the uk, particularly as they don't represent a single outbreak, but are widely scattered across england. the

concern of that while current vaccines will still give a significant degree of protection, this very�*s resistance to some covid antibodies could reduce their effectiveness. does the secretary of state plan to tighten internal travel restriction to avoid is spreading across the uk, as happened with the kent variant? will there be increased random genomic testing of specimens outwith these areas to identify just specimens outwith these areas to identifyjust how widespread it already is? unfortunately, this is shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted. the government has been aware of the concern of this variant for some time, and the state advisory group warned that limited travel bans would not be enough to keep out new covid variants, and the only way to stop them would be mandatory quarantine for all arrivals. why did the government choose not to follow this advice? this variant is already present in many countries and you are more

resistant covid variants could evolve anywhere in the world, so will the government now reconsider their very minimal quarantine plan and extended to all incoming travellers? finally, as new strains brought in to holiday travel last year contributed to the second wave of covid, is the prime minister seriously suggesting people should go abroad on holiday this summer? thank you very much. i think what the snp spokeswoman failed to mention is that it is only because we built the huge genomic surveillance capacity that we now have that is available right across the uk that we have been able to spot these variants of concern. this is a critical point because these sorts of variations happen everywhere, but the challenge is to spot them as soon as you can and to act on them. she asked about travel

and we have already have in place rules about all nonessential travel, with a clear stay local guidance. we also have mandatory isolation for new arrivals, so yes we have tightened in response to the new evidence that she mentions. she didn't also mention the fact that it is only because the vaccine programme is rolling out so rapidly across the whole uk that we are able to protect people against the old variant, which of course is the most wide spreads and the combination of the old variants and the variant first discovered in kent. that is the way that we will get out of this situation. that is a uk programme and we are enthusiastic and willing from the uk government point of view to do everything we possibly can to

support the roll—out, including all the way across scotland, to make sure that people in scotland and every other part of this united kingdom can get their injection as soon as possible. kingdom can get their in'ection as soon as possibleh kingdom can get their in'ection as soon as possible. videolan, robert health and- — soon as possible. videolan, robert health and. thank _ soon as possible. videolan, robert health and. thank you. _ soon as possible. videolan, robert health and. thank you. i _ soon as possible. videolan, robert health and. thank you. i pay - soon as possible. videolan, robert health and. thank you. i pay tribute j health and. thank you. i pay tribute to my right — health and. thank you. i pay tribute to my right honourable _ health and. thank you. i pay tribute to my right honourable friend - health and. thank you. i pay tribute to my right honourable friend and l to my right honourable friend and the vaccination is minister for the work you have all done in vaccines. will he thank nhs counsel, nhs staff and volunteers in harlow who have already vaccinated many thousands of residents. public health england have said that adults over 18 with learning difficulties are under great risk. if you are learning disabled age between 65. 55 and 6a, the death rate is similar to those over 80. a petition has been signed by many thousands. will he work to

move the adult learning disabled high up the priority list for vaccinations? i high up the priority list for vaccinations?— high up the priority list for vaccinations? ,, , ., ., vaccinations? i pay tribute to all of those working _ vaccinations? i pay tribute to all of those working in _ vaccinations? i pay tribute to all of those working in harlow, - of those working in harlow, including at the harlow mass vaccination site and also the gps and pharmacists who are working so hard to vaccinate people right across harlow. on the question of the jcvi across harlow. on the question of thejcvi ordering and the prioritisation for vaccination, as he knows the best approach is to take the clinical advice and to follow that clinical advice. the sorts of considerations that he raises are an important part of the jcvi deliberations. they have looked very closely at the subject that he raises. what matters now they have published their decision is that we drive through the vaccination programme to get through as many of those groups as possible and i am very pleased to see the hundreds of thousands of new vaccinations that are taking place every day. video

link dame angela _ are taking place every day. video link dame angela eagle. - are taking place every day. video link dame angela eagle. thank i are taking place every day. video i link dame angela eagle. thank you. the dangers — link dame angela eagle. thank you. the dangers of— link dame angela eagle. thank you. the dangers of the _ link dame angela eagle. thank you. the dangers of the south _ link dame angela eagle. thank you. the dangers of the south african - the dangers of the south african strain were warned about weeks ago, but the prime minister dragged his feet and has now decided on a partial quarantine arrangement that sage has already warned will be ineffective in preventing further introduction of this variant. isn't it the case that once again the government have acted too little and too late to stop the spread of this new and dangerous variation in the uk? ., ., a, , new and dangerous variation in the uk? a, ., _ a new and dangerous variation in the uk? a, ., a, , a ., uk? no, on the contrary. we removed the travel corridors _ uk? no, on the contrary. we removed the travel corridors to _ uk? no, on the contrary. we removed the travel corridors to ensure - uk? no, on the contrary. we removed the travel corridors to ensure that - the travel corridors to ensure that there is a self isolation requirements that is mandatory for all those who are coming to this country. protecting this country from new variants coming from abroad is important, hence we have taken

the action swiftly and we did that on the basis of the scientific evidence. i on the basis of the scientific evidence-— on the basis of the scientific evidence. . ., ., evidence. i commend the health secretary for _ evidence. i commend the health secretary for the _ evidence. i commend the health secretary for the difficult, - evidence. i commend the health secretary for the difficult, brave | secretary for the difficult, brave the correct decisions he made early on in the pandemic in relation to vaccines, which has led to data written having a world leading vaccine roll—out? are also draws attention to nhs northamptonshire, which thanks to the very hard work of all the local staff and volunteers has one of the best vaccine roll—outs in the whole country? vaccine roll-outs in the whole count ? ,, ., ., ., country? nhs northamptonshire are auoin treat country? nhs northamptonshire are going great guns _ country? nhs northamptonshire are going great guns and _ country? nhs northamptonshire are going great guns and are _ country? nhs northamptonshire are going great guns and are working i going great guns and are working incredibly hard. this doesn't happen by magic, it happens by hard graft, and especially to gps and pharmacists and the support teams and the volunteers who are doing such a greatjob in northamptonshire. i am grateful to what my honourable friend said. we

did take decisions at risk early before we knew whether they were going to come off, knowing that we would be criticised if it didn't work out, but that meant that we could get those contracts signed ahead of many other places and it means that we will be able to deliver vaccines for uk citizens, and then of course play our part in ensuring that everybody across the world can have access to this life—saving vaccine, too. the life-saving vaccine, too. the government _ life-saving vaccine, too. the government is _ life-saving vaccine, too. the government is not _ life—saving vaccine, too. tue: government is not catastrophic mishandling of the virus has meant that in the past month over 33,000 covert deaths in the uk —— covid deaths in the uk. in new zealand there was zero, in vietnam zero, australia zero, in taiwan there was one. the difference is these countries produce to zero covid strategy, suppressing cases, saving lives and reopening economies. the vaccine offers hope it is known as the virus circulates there is a risk

of thousands of more deaths and no more dangerous new variants, so does the secretary of state regret his government was not to pursue at zero covid strategy and will he now commit to it. mil covid strategy and will he now commit to it.— covid strategy and will he now commit to it. all countries that have attempted _ commit to it. all countries that have attempted a _ commit to it. all countries that have attempted a zero - commit to it. all countries that have attempted a zero covid i commit to it. all countries that - have attempted a zero covid strategy transmits advocates round the boundaries that have been put in place. there are parts of this country that tried to strategy of zero, and they were urged to do so in this house, but what matters is making sure that she gets the tools that are going to be used permanently for us to get through this, and we get them deployed as fast as possible, and that means testing with the hundreds of testing sites not available, and crucially it means getting this vaccine roll—out. she said the vaccine offers hope, and i think that is where we should all focus on getting this vaccine rolled out as quickly

as we possibly can. the this vaccine rolled out as quickly as we possibly can.— this vaccine rolled out as quickly as we possibly can. the health board in north wales _ as we possibly can. the health board in north wales has _ as we possibly can. the health board in north wales has had _ as we possibly can. the health board in north wales has had some - in north wales has had some difficulties over a number of years and it wasn't surprising therefore that there was a collective shop intake of breath and muttering so here we go again when the vaccine got out to a bit of a faltering start in north wales. my colleagues from these benches have been in constant contact with the health board and are pleased to report that now things are back on track, they are making really good progress and they are very confident of being able to hit that target by the middle of february. will hejoin with me in paying tribute not only to the staff of the health board, but also the legions of volunteers, the army, and all of the people who were involved in that we are doing such a fantasticjob in north wales? it is close to my heart. i think that right across this uk, people

have done extraordinary things and have done extraordinary things and have worked incredibly hard to deliver this vaccine roll—out. we have been working as hard as we possibly can as a united kingdom to support the nhs in wales, in north wales, in scotland, northern ireland to make sure that this vaccine is delivered as safety and as rapidly as possible to all parts of the silence. it as possible to all parts of the silence. , ., ., , ,., silence. it is wonderful to see so many people _ silence. it is wonderful to see so many people being _ silence. it is wonderful to see so many people being vaccinated i silence. it is wonderful to see so| many people being vaccinated so quickly. it shows the value of investing in the right people in the right place at the right time and using our national health service gps and local public health professionals. the vaccination isn't the end of the story. social distance and will continue to play its part, so will test, trace, isolate and support and new variants threatened to take us back to square one. can i ask him to learn from the

obvious lessons from this government has backed failures and successes, put local health teams in charge of test and trace with the proper funding that they need, but also fisk —— fix the broken system of support. the 500 point payments and those not entitled to statutory sick pay as quickly as possible? t those not entitled to statutory sick pay as quickly as possible?- pay as quickly as possible? i take all that is a _ pay as quickly as possible? i take all that is a compliment, - pay as quickly as possible? i take all that is a compliment, the - pay as quickly as possible? i take | all that is a compliment, the £500 payment is incredibly important for supporting people on low incomes. the huge roll—out of test and trace, the fact that now over 90% of contacts are identified and contacted by nhs test and trace, who are doing a magnificentjob, and the roll—out of the vaccine, which is growing so rapidly. the fact that this weekend one in 60 of all of the adults in the country got an injection is a testament to that. we absolutely always are looking to improve and to learn lessons where ever we possibly can, but i am really glad that things are making

the progress that they are. the government? a sentence last week that the release of our society, rightly starting with the school should move in lockstep with the success of vaccine roll—out was really welcome. can he assure parents that we will follow an increasing number of countries around europe and the uk and stick to that as the vulnerable groups are protected? to that as the vulnerable groups are rotected? , ., _, , to that as the vulnerable groups are protected?_ with - to that as the vulnerable groups are j protected?_ with the protected? yes, of course. with the princess -- — protected? yes, of course. with the princess -- princes _ protected? yes, of course. with the princess -- princes trust _ protected? yes, of course. with the princess -- princes trust recording i princess —— princes trust recording a record high of half of young people feeling anxious and the nhs reporting daily seeing children coming in with self harming and overdosing, it is clear that the pandemic is taking an enormous toll

on children and young people's mental health due to school closures, family pressures, social isolation and bereavement. will he commit to date are urgently forming a cross departmental plan for tackling the impact of the pandemic on children and young people mental health? brute on children and young people mental health? ~ ., on children and young people mental health? ~ . , , ., , health? we have puts a significant amount of extra _ health? we have puts a significant amount of extra funding _ health? we have puts a significant amount of extra funding into - amount of extra funding into supporting children's mental health, alongside adult mental health as we know that one of the consequences of the lockdown, which is absolutely necessary, is that it does put significant pressure and we have seen the increased burden on mental health services. it is very important that people get the support that they need. flan t important that people get the support that they need. can i 'ust add my congratulations �* support that they need. can i 'ust add my congratulations to h support that they need. can i just add my congratulations to those l support that they need. can i just i add my congratulations to those that have been rolling out our vaccine? i listen carefully to what i call it

northamptonshire said, but can i put on record my thanks to those in close touch, which was the top performing part of the country, and hereford and worcestershire next door was second highest performing, which makes them the highest performing roll—out in the whole of the western world. can i thank the secretary of state for his help enough fantastic performance. the whole point of this vaccine roll—out is to make sure that we protect the vulnerable, reduced the death toll and reduced hospitalisations and the pressure on the health service. given the vaccine roll—out is going so well and ahead of where i expect this health secretary thought it would, can he confirm that on the 8th of march when to school start to go back it will be those two metrics, deaths and hospitalisations, as they fall, which will guide the reopening not just of schools, but of the rest of the economy?—

just of schools, but of the rest of the econom ? ., ,, , ., the economy? thank you. the prime minister set — the economy? thank you. the prime minister set out _ the economy? thank you. the prime minister set out for _ the economy? thank you. the prime minister set out for metrics - the economy? thank you. the prime minister set out for metrics that i the economy? thank you. the prime minister set out for metrics that we | minister set out for metrics that we will follow. deaths and hospitalisations are two of them, and they are both incredibly important. we expect deaths to fall faster than hospitalisations because you tend to get, because older people who are higher up in the right cohorts are more likely to die by a greater degree than they are more likely to use hospital beds. the other two considerations are that we don't see further new variants that put all this at risk, and that the vaccination programme rolls out well. i wouldn't say that the vaccination programme is ahead of plans, i would say it is on track. i make no further claim than that. g ,, ., ., track. i make no further claim than that, ,, ., ., ., track. i make no further claim than that, . ,, ., ., ., “ track. i make no further claim than that, ,, ., ., ., ~ ., that. jim shannon. i would like to thank the secretary _ that. jim shannon. i would like to thank the secretary of _ that. jim shannon. i would like to thank the secretary of state i that. jim shannon. i would like to thank the secretary of state for i that. jim shannon. i would like to. thank the secretary of state for his and his department is wisdom and forethought for securing the vaccine forethought for securing the vaccine for all of the united kingdom. as

some members will remember, the last smallpox outbreak in the uk was in the 19705 and was combated by health workers going door—to—door testing. can i ask the secretary of state what discussions has been happy with the treasury to secure additional financial support to enable each devolved administration to carry out similar schemes if the need arises in every part of the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland? ~ ., , , ., of great britain and northern ireland? ., , ., , ., ireland? we of course stand ready to ut in ireland? we of course stand ready to put in place — ireland? we of course stand ready to put in place financial— ireland? we of course stand ready to put in place financial supports - ireland? we of course stand ready to put in place financial supports for i put in place financial supports for the devolved nations should that be neededin the devolved nations should that be needed in order to tackle outbreaks like this. we have a constant conversation with the devolved authorities and i speak to robin swann, the health minister in northern ireland, on a regular basis. i was talking to him on saturday morning about supply of

vaccines. it is something we work very closely together on. the fundamental point that he makes is absolutely right, it is by working together as one united kingdom that we are managing to do this on vaccines. if you want a shining example of why this country perform so well when we work together, just look to the vaccine programme being brought out in every corner of the country, in every locality, with all nations working together in a single combined mission. it is this celebrated example of why this country works well when we are better together. flan country works well when we are better together.— better together. can i thank my ri . ht better together. can i thank my right honourable _ better together. can i thank my right honourable friends - better together. can i thank my right honourable friends for i right honourable friends for repeating his commitment to ensuring that schools can get back as soon as it is safe to do so? as he reflects on that, can i ask them to keep on his mind a very sobering words of

professor russell viner, the president of the royal college of paediatricians, who said to this health select committee when we close schools we close children's lives, then went on to refer to 75 international studies which suggest significant mental health damage for children? will he reiterates the huge importance that there is in putting children's mental health and well—being alongside the other owners responsibility is that he bears? , ., , , bears? yes, i agree entirely with my riaht bears? yes, i agree entirely with my right honourable _ bears? yes, i agree entirely with my right honourable friend. _ bears? yes, i agree entirely with my right honourable friend. the - bears? yes, i agree entirely with my right honourable friend. the royal. right honourable friend. the royal couege right honourable friend. the royal college of psychiatry have been very clear in describing the negative impacts of school closures, and also the negative impacts of the virus getting out of control. the challenge we have is to try to mitigate both of those problems. it is the vaccine that is the best way through.

is the vaccine that is the best way throu . h. ., is the vaccine that is the best way throuuh. ., . ., , is the vaccine that is the best way through._ thank through. video ruth jones. thank ou. i through. video ruth jones. thank you- i want _ through. video ruth jones. thank you- i want to _ through. video ruth jones. thank you. i want to start _ through. video ruth jones. thank you. i want to start by _ through. video ruth jones. thank you. i want to start by thanking i through. video ruth jones. thank. you. i want to start by thanking our amazing nhs staff, especially those working in our health but here in south—east wales for their amazing work in this pandemic. can i ask the secretary of state to update the house and any conversations he may have had with the pharmaceutical companies about the need to modify the vaccine in the light of the new variants? yes, we are working with pharmaceutical companies and the scientists to understand both whether such modifications are needed, where they are needed, and how they can be brought to use on the front line as quickly as safety possible. this is very important consideration given the variants that we have seen. we have confidence that modifications to

vaccines, should they be necessary in large scale, will