Debate on Coronavirus and the North of England. Government told: “Our loss of liberty under the cover of Covid-19, and the intolerable threat to use our Armed Forces to enforce decrees and edicts touching every aspect of our lives, is simply not acceptable, and Ministers need to understand that.”… “Constantly changing messaging has been buttressed by muddle and confusion.” “An over-centralised “pushmi-pullyu”, stop-start approach destroys jobs and drives up unemployment.” “Chaos and confusion undermine confidence in government, while an emasculated Parliament gives the illusion of accountability and scrutiny.”

Debate on Coronavirus and the North of England. Government told: “Our loss of liberty under the cover of Covid-19, and the intolerable threat to use our Armed Forces to enforce decrees and edicts touching every aspect of our lives, is simply not acceptable, and Ministers need to understand that.”… “Constantly changing messaging has been buttressed by muddle and confusion.” “An over-centralised “pushmi-pullyu”, stop-start approach destroys jobs and drives up unemployment.” “Chaos and confusion undermine confidence in government, while an emasculated Parliament gives the illusion of accountability and scrutiny.”

Coronavirus Regulations for the North of England – 25.09.2020 Speech in the House of Lords  12.25 pm Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB) [V] My Lords, I declare an interest as I live in the north-west of England, as do members of my family, one of whom is an A&E...

World Hunger and the effects of Covid. Government quizzed about how many people they estimate are beneficiaries of UK contributions to World Food Programme projects; what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction in global economies on those programmes; and what assessment they have made of the likelihood that current contribution levels will be maintained; and Minister Ahmad gives a welcome promise “of our commitment to preventing famine and eradicating hunger and we will work closely with WFP to ensure that the organisation receives the financial support needed to tackle the current and future challenge.”

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL7843): Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people they estimate are...

Government Minister responds to comments by the UN Human Rights Commissioner about the operation of care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic with their assessment of reports of care home staff (1) abandoning care homes, (2) leaving residents to die alone, (3) failing to make adequate preparations, and (4) failing to provide guidance and personal protection equipment; what assessment they have made, in assessing such reports, of the human rights of patients and staff in care homes; and the assessment they have made of a report by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services – respond positively, in principle, to a call for a UN convention on the rights of the elderly

Government Minister responds to comments by the UN Human Rights Commissioner about the operation of care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic with their assessment of reports of care home staff (1) abandoning care homes, (2) leaving residents to die alone, (3) failing...

Care homes ‘thrown to the wolves’, MPs say. Some of the Questions put to the Government as this tragedy unfolded. And in a further indication of diminished accountability to Parliament, Ministers have produced an unprecedented standard reply to avoid having to give detailed responses to parliamentary questions – including questions which have remained unanswered for weeks on end.

Care homes ‘thrown to the wolves’, MPs say. Some of the Questions put to the Government as this tragedy unfolded. And in a further indication of diminished accountability to Parliament, Ministers have produced an unprecedented standard reply to avoid having to give detailed responses to parliamentary questions – including questions which have remained unanswered for weeks on end.

Care homes ‘thrown to the wolves’, MPs say The Local Government Association LGA) has reported that Ministers have been accused of a “slow, inconsistent, and at times negligent” approach to social care during the coronavirus pandemic, which has exposed years of delayed...

Government replies on the impact of Covid-19 on religious minorities and says that it is “deeply concerned by the secondary effects that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on members of religious and belief communities. This includes incidents of hate speech targeting minority religious and belief groups, as well as the rise in conspiracy theories that certain faiths or beliefs are to blame for coronavirus.”

Government replies on the impact of Covid-19 on religious minorities and says that it is “deeply concerned by the secondary effects that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on members of religious and belief communities. This includes incidents of hate speech targeting minority religious and belief groups, as well as the rise in conspiracy theories that certain faiths or beliefs are to blame for coronavirus.”

Government replies on the impact of Covid-19 on religious minorities and says that it is "deeply concerned by the secondary effects that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on members of religious and belief...

Last year, Councils used court action 2.3 million times and bailiffs 1.4 million times to collect council tax debt. The bailiff fees added £200 million to people’s debts. Over 1.3 million households are estimated to have built up council tax debts because of coronavirus. When the Covid restrictions on debt collection end on 23 August, the day on which bailiffs can arrive—or debt D-day, as the coalition charities have called it— there need to be pre-action protocols in place to prevent people finding themselves on the streets.

Last year, Councils used court action 2.3 million times and bailiffs 1.4 million times to collect council tax debt. The bailiff fees added £200 million to people’s debts. Over 1.3 million households are estimated to have built up council tax debts because of coronavirus. When the Covid restrictions on debt collection end on 23 August, the day on which bailiffs can arrive—or debt D-day, as the coalition charities have called it— there need to be pre-action protocols in place to prevent people finding themselves on the streets.

Last year, Councils used Court action 2.3 million times and bailiffs 1.4 million times to collect council tax debt. The bailiff fees added £200 million to people’s debts. Over 1.3 million households are estimated to have built up council tax debts because of...

Government replies on the disproportionate effects of Covid on people with disabilities; of negligence affecting people on care homes; the recall of faulty face masks; and what plans are in place (1) to acquire, (2) to stock, and (3) to distribute, gowns, masks, eye protection, gloves and other personal protective equipment, which is sufficiently adequate to protect clinical and care workers in the NHS and care sector in preparation for a potential second wave of COVID-19.

Government replies on the disproportionate effects of Covid on people with disabilities; of negligence affecting people on care homes; the recall of faulty face masks; and what plans are in place (1) to acquire, (2) to stock, and (3) to distribute, gowns, masks, eye protection, gloves and other personal protective equipment, which is sufficiently adequate to protect clinical and care workers in the NHS and care sector in preparation for a potential second wave of COVID-19.

Government replies on the disproportionate effects of Covid on people with disabilities; of negligence affecting people on care homes; the recall of faulty face masks; and what plans are in place (1) to acquire, (2) to stock, and (3) to distribute, gowns, masks, eye...

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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The World Must Not Forget Andy Li And The Hong Kong 12

The World Must Not Forget Andy Li And The Hong Kong 12

With Andy Li During The Hong Kong Elections In the U.K. Parliament I have again asked the U.K. Government what information they have on the wellbeing of the 12 young prodemocracy activists from Hong Kong, arrested by China. I asked whether the U.K. has asked China to...