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
4 results
Clear
1 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
The Government’s response has argued that the UK’s maternity leave offer is already amongst the...
The Government’s response has argued that the UK’s maternity leave offer is already amongst the most generous in the world. Although up to 52 weeks leave is generous compared to other countries, the amount of maternity pay is not the … Read more
Government Response
The government's response does not address the recommendation to capture data on the uptake of parental leave and pay, instead focusing on defending the generosity and flexibility of existing maternity leave arrangements and rejecting the idea of extending entitlements.
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4 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
The Government has suggested that women can be furloughed as a means of extending their...
The Government has suggested that women can be furloughed as a means of extending their maternity leave and delaying their return to work. However, access to the scheme is reliant on employers’ consent, rather than parents having a right to … Read more
Government Response
The government explained the purpose and temporary nature of the CJRS, confirming that employers are not obliged to use the scheme, and reiterated existing health and safety requirements for pregnant employees, without directly addressing the committee's concerns about fairness and realism for many new parents.
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12 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
New parents have missed out on vital support from professionals such as health visitors to...
New parents have missed out on vital support from professionals such as health visitors to baby classes and groups. We’ve heard how important this support is for parental mental health and for helping to lay the foundation for parenting, family … Read more
Government Response
The government states community health services continued support during the pandemic and that health visitor resources are a matter for local authorities. It mentions general funding for local authorities and charities but does not commit to additional catch-up support specifically targeted at new parents.
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19 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report: The impact of Covid-…
We welcome the Government’s introduction of testing for members of the public.
We welcome the Government’s introduction of testing for members of the public. However, priority testing should be made available for parents of babies in neonatal care. No parent should be separated unnecessarily from their newborn for any longer that they … Read more
Government Response
The government states that asymptomatic testing is conducted where clinically appropriate and that decisions on COVID-19 testing are made by individual NHS Trusts based on their own risk assessments, without committing to prioritising rapid testing for parents of babies in neonatal care.
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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
Parliament page