Prime Minister's Questions: 20 May 2020

In today's PMQs, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson started by acknowledging the deaths of frontline workers who have lost their lives to Covid-19, saying, “Mr Speaker, 181 NHS and 131 Social Care workers' deaths have sadly been reported involving Covid-19.”

Questions from the Leader of the Opposition

The Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer, asked the Prime Minister:

• about contradictory statements made by Government officials and the Chief Executive of Care England on protection of care homes against Covid-19.
• "What's causing the continued delay in routine testing in our care homes?"
• Why that despite 2 million tests having being carried out, there's been no effective tracing in place since March 12th?
• "This is the last PMQs for two weeks, can the Prime Minister indicate that an affective test, trace and isolate system will be in place by June 1st?"
• "Does the Prime Minister think that its right that care workers coming from abroad and working on our frontline, should have to pay a surcharge of hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds to use the NHS themselves?"

Questions from the Scottish National Party's Westminster Leader

The Scottish National Party's Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford, asked:

• "On Monday the Prime Minister ordered his MPs to vote for an immigration Bill that defines many in the NHS and care sector as low skilled workers. Given their sacrifice Prime Minister, is he not embarrassed that this is how his government chooses to treat NHS and care workers? "
• If the Prime Minister will remove the government's NHS surcharge removed immediately?

Full list of topics and questioners

• Labour MP, Claudia Webbe (Leicester East) asked if the Prime Minister will act now to ensure African, Asian and minority ethnic communities across the country bare supported in the next phase of the Covid-19 government plans.
• Conservative MP, Richard Holden (North West Durham) asked about his support for a new rail line connecting his constituency to Newcastle .
• Conservative MP, Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) asked about continued support for potential investment in Hyndburn and Haslingden.
• Conservative MP, Richard Drax (South Dorset) asked about considering conducting a route and branch review of its defence supply chain.
• Social Democratic & Labour Party MP, Colum Eastwood (Foyle) asked "When will he put the lives of people in our community above the petty, narrow brexiteer politics?"
• Conservative MP, Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) asked about support for plans for the re-opening of hospitality and tourism industry in her constituency after Covid-19 .
• Labour MP, Rosie Duffield (Canterbury) asked "Does the Prime Minister agree with me as the Chair of the largest group of female MPs in this House, that we need a change of tone and more female voices at the top of Government to reflect the majority of the UK population, almost 52% of whom, are in fact women. And if not, why not?"
• Conservative MP, Chris Loder (West Dorset) asked if the Prime Minister can look at the Job Retention Scheme again and see what can be done to help those who have no financial support at this time.
• Scottish National Party MP, Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) asked "Will the Prime Minister condemn or condone the reckless behaviour of the Secretary of State for Scotland of making a round trip of almost 700 miles to be physically in the Chamber today, in clear breech of the guidance for Scottish Government to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives?"
• Conservative MP, Tom Randall (Gedling) asked if the Prime Minister agrees with the idea of a creation of a medal for NHS workers and other to recognise their distinguished service in their work against the Coronavirus?
• Scottish National Party MP, Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) asked "Will the Prime Minister agree to extend the Job Retention Scheme in Scotland for the length of time Scotland's Government and Parliament deem a lockdown necessary?
• Conservative MP, Lucy Allan (Telford) asked if the Prime Minister will ensure that the recovery strategy focusses on young people and equipping them with the skills they need to survive in a post-pandemic economy, and thrive in the longer term?

Catch up on the full PMQs

• Listen on SoundCloud
• Read in Hansard
• Watch on YouTube

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Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor