Thank you for contacting me about the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the “Protect Everyone Campaign”.
I understand that lockdowns and other restrictions have caused enormous stress and disruption to people’s lives. I also understand that lockdowns do cause other side effects and we must be mindful of these when considering policy options.
The Coronavirus Act is a vital piece of legislation in our national response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
While temporary emergency powers have been granted to Ministers to handle the pandemic, I welcome that we, as elected Members of Parliament, have had a number of opportunities to vote on and debate changes to regulations where possible. I, like my colleagues, take my responsibility to represent my constituents at these debates incredibly seriously.
Schedule 21 (Forced Detention): I completely appreciate your concerns about the power conferred by the Coronavirus Act relating to people who may be infectious. I know that most people have been working extremely hard, and making numerous sacrifices, to comply with relevant public health advice. This provision simply seeks to ensure that isolation measures can be enforced if necessary. In practice, this power would take the form of a public health officer or police officer returning people to places that they have been required to stay. For example, if someone has been contacted by NHS Test and Trace and required to self-isolate for 14 days, and then is found out and about during that time, they would be returned home. Equally, the act empowers police and immigration officers to make sure that individuals attend testing or treatment facilities as required.
I understand that these measures may seem intimidating, and I know that the overwhelming majority of people are following guidance and obeying self-isolation instructions. However, we must be prepared to enforce these measures, to ensure that the small number of people who do not comply are not putting lives at risk by their behaviour.
Enforcement: The deployment of tactics is of course an operational matter for the police. It is welcome that in general the public have followed the rules without requiring enforcement action by the police. However, there will of course be occasions where fines are necessary. The police are having to respond to quite complex guidance and legislation and this means that there will be individual examples where the police gets it wrong. However, it is only right that when errors do occur a full apology is made is the situation is resolved quickly.
Schools opening: Being in face-to-face education is the best place for pupils and students. I am truly delighted that returning children and young people to face-to-face education was prioritised as the first step in easing this lockdown, and that schools and colleges have now re-opened.
I am very pleased that, now that schools and colleges are open, pupils entitled to free school meals can receive them in their educational settings. It was encouraging that, during the period of school closures, extra funding was given to support schools to provide food parcels or meals to eligible children. Where food parcels or local solutions were inappropriate, a national voucher scheme was in place so that every eligible child could access free school meals while their school was closed.]
Support for Workers Self Isolating: The Government has taken steps to improve the provision of SSP during coronavirus to ensure those self-isolating receive the support they need. Waiting days have been temporarily suspended so that SSP is payable from day one of a period of absence, rather than day four. This encourages individuals to follow the Government guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus should they develop symptoms or be asked to self-isolate in line with the Test and Trace scheme. It should also be noted that SSP is only one part of the Government’s safety net. A new payment has been implemented for people on low incomes in areas with high rates of COVID-19. The £500 Test and Trace Support Payment is designed to help people on low incomes who are unable to work from home while self-isolating and for whom a loss of earnings presents a more immediate and serious issue.
Support for Workers (Safety): Employers have a legal duty to ensure that the workplace is safe for employees. Where the Health and Safety Executive identifies an employer who is not complying with public health legislation, they can take a range of measures to minimise risks. Workers can raise concerns directly with the Health and Safety Executive, their employee representative or a trade union. A substantial number of key workers are paid at or just above the National Minimum Wage. It is right that we support these workers as they are supporting the country during this crisis. This is why, in April 2020 the Government in 2020 increased the National Living Wage.
No recourse to public funds: Those who arrive in the UK to establish their family life must do so on a basis that prevents burdens on the state and the wider taxpayer. It is a key principle that those who benefit from the state should contribute towards it. As I understand it, those who have leave to remain in the UK on human rights grounds can apply to have their no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition removed if they would otherwise be destitute. Local authorities can also provide a safety net for those in a genuine need for care that does not solely arise from destitution. A dedicated Coronavirus immigration help-centre is available to provide assistance and this can be accessed by emailing CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Housing: Decisive action was taken to protect renters during the initial coronavirus outbreak by introducing a six-month moratorium on evictions in England and suspending housing possession proceedings. I am relieved that the enforcement of evictions has been paused until 31 May at the earliest, except in the most egregious cases. This, alongside the six-month notice period, will protect tenants from evictions over the coming months, while allowing serious cases to be dealt with such as incidents of fraud and domestic abuse.
Elections: I understand your concern that elections did not take place as planned in 2020 and the uncertainty you feel about elections due to be held later this year. The decision to postpone elections last year was not taken lightly and it took into account the medical advice following the outbreak of Coronavirus. The Government has confirmed that elections will go ahead as planned in May. A Delivery Plan has also been published setting out the steps to be taken in order for the elections to be delivered in a Covid-secure way.
It is vital to balance the need to restrict the spread of the virus without infringing on civil liberties, while allowing the restoration of economic and social life going forward. I understand your concerns regarding the restrictions; indeed, I would argue that such restrictions are difficult to accept in a democratic and free society. However, this is an extraordinary time and I have concluded that the current action to stop the spread of the disease is necessary for the time being, however uncomfortable it is for us all. I am clear that we cannot reverse the movement towards reopening the economy: a flourishing and strong economy is vital for health, well-being, the quality of life and, of course, the funding of public services including the NHS.
Thanks to the hard work and enormous sacrifices of the British people, as well as the incredible success of our vaccination programme, I am delighted that the Government is now in a position to cautiously start easing lockdown restrictions and has begun to do so with the return of face-to-face learning. I welcome the Government's roadmap to guide us cautiously, but irreversibly, towards reclaiming our freedoms and way of life.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
March 2021