Home / Sources / Select Committees / Petitions Committee / The Government's response to Coronavirus
Index live
Select Committee · Petitions Committee

The Government's response to Coronavirus

Status: Closed Opened: 13 Mar 2020 Closed: 31 Dec 2020 26 recommendations 4 conclusions 2 reports

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.

Clear

Reports

2 reports
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 on university studen… HC 527 13 Jul 2020 8 Responded
First Report: The impact of Covid-19 on maternity and paren… HC 526 6 Jul 2020 22 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
1 Conclusion Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 … Acknowledged

The Covid-19 outbreak has hugely disrupted the education of university students.

The Covid-19 outbreak has hugely disrupted the education of university students. A significant number of students have told us they are not receiving the standard of education that they had expected, feel they are entitled to, or which offers true value for money in light of the amount they are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the significant disruption and challenges faced by students, noting universities' adaptation to online teaching and the OfS's role in ensuring quality. It highlights that universities were enabled to increase hardship funds using existing funding to support disadvantaged students.
Read full response →
4 Recommendation Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 … Acknowledged

While it appears that to date relatively few students have raised formal complaints with their...

While it appears that to date relatively few students have raised formal complaints with their universities or taken individual action to seek a refund of their tuition fees, many students are not happy with how university courses are being delivered. It is essential that all students are made aware of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees students should be aware of their rights and is working with stakeholders (UUK, NUS, OfS, CMA, OIA) to explore how existing communication channels can improve students' understanding of their consumer rights, noting universities are already required to make students aware of the …
Read full response →
5 Conclusion Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 … Acknowledged

If a university has failed to provide the education a student has paid for, the...

If a university has failed to provide the education a student has paid for, the student is entitled to a refund from that university. However, given the likely impact of Covid-19 on universities—which could cost them around £2.5 billion in fees and teaching grant income alone—there is a risk that … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that student entitlement to a refund depends on individual contractual agreements. It details various financial support measures provided to universities, including loans and a restructuring regime, to help them manage the financial impacts of COVID-19 and ensure sector sustainability.
Read full response →
8 Recommendation Second Report - The impact of Covid-19 … Acknowledged

University students whose courses have been affected by Covid-19, particularly those in their final year,...

University students whose courses have been affected by Covid-19, particularly those in their final year, are understandably concerned about the impact the disruption to their courses could have on their futures. We welcome the Government’s acknowledgment of these concerns, and its plans to look at the overall range of support … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges challenges for graduates and highlights general employment support like the Kickstart Scheme. It states a working group has been established to consider existing or additional guidance for postgraduate study opportunities, but does not commit to providing additional funding for students to extend …
Read full response →

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
11 Jun 2020 Michelle Donelan MP · Department for Education, Paul Scully MP · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy View ↗
21 May 2020 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 View ↗
7 May 2020 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alain Gregoire · Chair Maternal Mental Health Alliance 1
Bethany Power, Petition signatory · Petition Signatory Private citizen 1
Bobby Norris, petition creator — 1
Dr Cheryll Adams CBE FRSPH D(Nurs) MSc · Executive Director Institute of Health Visiting 1
Dr Jo Grady · General Secretary University and College Union 1
Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE · Registrar Royal College of Psychiatrists 1
Emily Tredget · Co-Founder Happity 1
James Zammit-Garcia, Petition Creator — 1
Jessie Zammit, Petition Creator — 1
Josie Anderson · Campaigns and Policy Manager Bliss 1
Michelle Donelan MP · Minister of State for Universities Department for Education 1
Neil Leitch · Chief Executive Early Years Alliance 1
Paul Scully MP · Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour… Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
Professor Elizabeth Meins · Department of Psychology University of York 1
Professor Julia Buckingham CBE · President Universities UK 1
Sophie Quinn, Petition creator — 1
Sue Armstrong Brown · Chief Executive Adoption UK 1
Zamzam Ibrahim · National President National Union of Students 1

Correspondence

29 letters
DateDirectionTitle
29 Apr 2021 From cttee Letter to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families …
29 Apr 2021 To cttee Letter from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families re…
1 Apr 2021 From cttee Letter to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families …
13 Oct 2020 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Small Business, Consumers & Labour Markets respond…
24 Sep 2020 From cttee Letter to the Prime Minister regarding the impact of Covid-19 on maternity and …
24 Sep 2020 From cttee Letter to the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets regardi…
20 Aug 2020 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Education regarding student grading
4 Aug 2020 From cttee Letter to Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets regarding m…
27 May 2020 From cttee Letter to Huw Merriman MP - Transport Committee - Aviation petition
18 May 2020 From cttee Letter to Oliver Dowden MP - BSL
18 May 2020 To cttee Response from Oliver Dowden MP - BSL
24 Apr 2020 From cttee Letter to Oliver Dowden MP - BSL
23 Apr 2020 From cttee Letter to Select Committee Chairs - scrutiny of the Government’s response to th…
15 Apr 2020 To cttee Response from Matt Hancock MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
14 Apr 2020 To cttee Response from Oliver Dowden MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
9 Apr 2020 To cttee Response from Robert Jenrick MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
9 Apr 2020 To cttee Response from George Eustice MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
9 Apr 2020 To cttee Response from Rishi Sunak MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
9 Apr 2020 To cttee Response from Nick Gibb MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus
9 Apr 2020 To cttee Response from Grant Shapps MP - The Government's response to Coronavirus