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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

3 items
10 Recommendation First Report: The impact of Covid-19 on… Deferred

It is difficult to see how health visitors will be able to ‘catch-up’ with their...

It is difficult to see how health visitors will be able to ‘catch-up’ with their important contact visits to provide the much-needed support for new parents and to help identify those who are vulnerable and most in need. This risks more vulnerable children and families becoming hidden. The Government should … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that the allocation of health visitor resources is a matter for local authorities and has provided additional funding to local authorities to address Covid-19 pressures, but does not commit to a government review of provision or increased central funding for health visitors.
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17 Recommendation First Report: The impact of Covid-19 on… Deferred

Special guardians need time and support to help their often highly vulnerable children to settle...

Special guardians need time and support to help their often highly vulnerable children to settle into their new kinship families in the same way that adoptive and other parents do. They should not be treated any differently to any other parent in this respect. A future review is welcome. As … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it has consulted on reforming the parental leave and pay system and will respond in due course, deferring a decision on extending entitlements to special guardians.
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22 Recommendation First Report: The impact of Covid-19 on… Deferred

We recognise the concerns of Maternity Action that pregnant women and new mothers, who are...

We recognise the concerns of Maternity Action that pregnant women and new mothers, who are at significant risk of discrimination and dismissal, may struggle to prepare and submit legal challenges within the 3-month time limit, at what is already an extraordinarily challenging time. We recommend that the Government considers extending … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has deferred action on extending the employment tribunal claim period for pregnant women and new parents, stating the issue is being considered by the Government Equalities Office following a consultation, and a response will be published in due course.
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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