The Government's response to Coronavirus

Petitions Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 13 Mar 2020 Closed: 31 Dec 2020 Parliament page
As a result of the large numbers of petitions people have started on this issue, the Petitions Committee is questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus to answer petitioner’s most common questions and concerns.
26 Recommendations
4 Conclusions
2 Reports
3 Oral sessions
29 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 40 events
29 Apr
2021
Correspondence
29 Apr
2021
Correspondence
1 Apr
2021
Correspondence
13 Oct
2020
Correspondence
24 Sep
2020
Correspondence
24 Sep
2020
Correspondence
16 Sep
2020
Report published
9 Sep
2020
Report published
20 Aug
2020
Correspondence
4 Aug
2020
Correspondence
29 Jul
2020
Report published
13 Jul
2020
Report published
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
11 Jun 2020
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Michelle Donelan MP · Department for Education Paul Scully MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
21 May 2020
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Alain Gregoire · Maternal Mental Health Alliance Bobby Norris, petition creator Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE · Royal College of Psychiatrists Josie Anderson · Bliss Neil Leitch · Early Years Alliance Sue Armstrong Brown · Adoption UK
7 May 2020
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Bethany Power, Petition signatory · Private citizen Dr Cheryll Adams CBE FRSPH D(Nurs) MSc · Institute of Health Visiting Dr Jo Grady · University and College Union Emily Tredget · Happity James Zammit-Garcia, Petition Creator Jessie Zammit, Petition Creator Professor Elizabeth Meins · University of York Professor Julia Buckingham CBE · Universities UK Sophie Quinn, Petition creator Zamzam Ibrahim · National Union of Students
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
The Government’s work to ensure premises are safe for workers during the pandemic is welcome.
The Government’s work to ensure premises are safe for workers during the pandemic is welcome. As an at-risk group, there is more that can be done to ensure that employers are aware of their responsibilities for the safety of pregnant … Read more
Government Response
The government states that clear guidance for employers on their obligations to pregnant women, including the right to suspension on full pay if they cannot work safely, has been published by the HSE. However, it does not commit to extending the furlough scheme to all pregnant women, stating that current approaches are considered proportionate.
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8 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme uses three years of tax returns to assess the average...
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme uses three years of tax returns to assess the average income of claimants. Claimants who have undertaken periods of parental leave in these years, will not receive support at a level representative of their usual … Read more
Government Response
The government has amended the SEISS scheme to make previously ineligible self-employed parents, whose 2018/19 tax returns were affected by new childcare, eligible for the scheme. However, it clarifies that the grant calculation for those already eligible is unaffected.
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20 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
We have heard about systemic problems in the funding of childcare before the pandemic.
We have heard about systemic problems in the funding of childcare before the pandemic. Just before the outbreak, we debated a petition which expressed concerns about how many parents struggled to afford childcare. Covid-19 has put a huge strain on … Read more
Government Response
The government addresses the short-term funding aspect by highlighting ongoing work, existing support schemes (CJRS, SEISS), continued funding for free childcare hours, and a commitment to fund local authorities at pre-pandemic levels for the autumn term. However, the response does not address the recommendation for an independent long-term review of childcare provision.
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21 Recommendation Accepted in Part
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
The current crisis has put new parents, particularly mothers, at increased risk of redundancy and...
The current crisis has put new parents, particularly mothers, at increased risk of redundancy and hardship. New and expectant mothers are already a group who are vulnerable to discrimination, and the Government needs to ensure that the current crisis doesn’t … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to extending redundancy protections to women returning from maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave, and from the point of informing an employer of pregnancy, but states this will be introduced through legislation 'as soon as parliamentary time allows' without providing a timetable.
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3 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - The impact of Covi…
Students have a right to seek a refund or to repeat part of their course...
Students have a right to seek a refund or to repeat part of their course if the service provided by their university is substandard, but the exact circumstances in which students should expect to receive a refund or be able … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that circumstances for student redress are unclear and states that guidance has recently been published to aid students and providers. However, it explicitly rejects establishing a new centralised system for tuition fee refunds, citing the individualised nature of student contracts and circumstances.
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Government Response AI assessment · 30 of 26 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 10
Total 26 recs + 4 conclusions
Correspondence 29 letters
29 Apr 2021 From committee Letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families relating to Parent and child group singing
Parliament page
29 Apr 2021 To committee Letter from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families relating to parent and child group singing
Parliament page
1 Apr 2021 From committee Letter to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families regarding guidance for early years and childcare providers
Parliament page
13 Oct 2020 To committee Letter from the Minister for Small Business, Consumers & Labour Markets responding to the Committee's First Report: The impact of COVID-19 on maternity and parental leave.
Parliament page
24 Sep 2020 From committee Letter to the Prime Minister regarding the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave
Parliament page
24 Sep 2020 From committee Letter to the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets regarding the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and parental leave
Parliament page
20 Aug 2020 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Education regarding student grading
Parliament page
4 Aug 2020 From committee Letter to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets regarding maternity leave
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27 May 2020 From committee Letter to Huw Merriman MP - Transport Committee - Aviation petition
Parliament page
18 May 2020 To committee Response from Oliver Dowden MP - BSL
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18 May 2020 From committee Letter to Oliver Dowden MP - BSL
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24 Apr 2020 From committee Letter to Oliver Dowden MP - BSL
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23 Apr 2020 From committee Letter to Select Committee Chairs - scrutiny of the Government’s response to the Coronavirus crisis
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15 Apr 2020 To committee Response from Matt Hancock MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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14 Apr 2020 To committee Response from Oliver Dowden MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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9 Apr 2020 To committee Response from George Eustice MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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9 Apr 2020 To committee Response from Justin Tomlinson MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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9 Apr 2020 To committee Response from Grant Shapps MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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9 Apr 2020 To committee Response from Robert Jenrick MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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9 Apr 2020 To committee Response from Rishi Sunak MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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9 Apr 2020 To committee Response from Nick Gibb MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to Grant Shapps MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to Matt Hancock MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to Thérèse Coffey MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to Oliver Dowden MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to Gavin Williamson MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to George Eustice MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to Alok Sharma MP and Rishi Sunak MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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30 Mar 2020 From committee Letter to Robert Jenrick MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
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