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Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 17 Nov 2020
Medicines and Medical Devices Bill

"First, I declare a tangential interest in the sense that I am patron of the Society of Occupational Medicine and, together with the faculty, it obviously has a real interest in this area, as well as its broader remit. I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Cumberlege, and the Committee …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Medicines and Medical Devices Bill
Speech in Grand Committee - Mon 26 Oct 2020
Medicines and Medical Devices Bill

"My Lords, although I was the shadow Health Secretary for two years in the 1990s, I speak with some temerity because the three contributors that we have just heard have expertise on this issue that I do not. I rarely say that when I decide to speak in Committee or …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Medicines and Medical Devices Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 22 Oct 2020
Covid-19: South Yorkshire

"I have a similar declaration to the noble Lord, Lord Scriven, and agree with his comments on tests, where the 24-hour turnaround for tests has now dropped to 15% of the total. Perhaps the Minister could comment on the fact that, given the announcement this morning by the Chancellor, including …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: South Yorkshire
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 28 Sep 2020
Coronavirus Act 2020: Temporary Provisions

"My Lords, I shall do my best to adhere to the stricture about four minutes. I reiterate the accolades placed on the shoulders of the Minister on Friday; he has an impossible task.

On 24 March, I was surprised to find myself in agreement with the noble Lord, Lord Robathan, …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Coronavirus Act 2020: Temporary Provisions
Speech in Lords Chamber - Fri 25 Sep 2020
Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions on Gatherings) (North of England) Regulations 2020

"My Lords, in my two minutes, I want to make it clear that I support carefully targeted local action that is democratically agreed with local authorities and mayors where appropriate, ensuring that we evaluate and monitor how that is working and learn the lessons. Perhaps the Minister would indicate in …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions on Gatherings) (North of England) Regulations 2020
Written Question
Social Services: Disability
Wednesday 22nd July 2020

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make it a commitment that the Social Care Taskforce addresses the care and support needs of working age disabled people.

Answered by Lord Bethell

The impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities and learning difficulties will be one of the focuses for the new Social Sector COVID-19 Support Taskforce.

The Social Care Sector COVID-19 Support Taskforce will ensure the delivery of two packages of support that the Government has put in place for the care sector and will be supported by several advisory groups including one on support for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Written Question
Coronavirus: Disease Control
Monday 11th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to develop a national COVID-19 test and tracing system; how that system will operate; how that system will be held accountable for its work; and what will be the role of local Directors of Public Health and related professionals.

Answered by Lord Bethell

We are developing a new test and trace programme which will bring together an app, expanded web and phone-based contact tracing, and swab testing for those with potential COVID-19 symptoms.

If someone installs the National Health Service COVID-19 app, it will start logging the distance between their phone and other phones nearby that also have the app installed. It measures this distance using a form of Bluetooth that is less energy hungry than normal Bluetooth. This log of proximity information will be stored securely on the person’s phone. If a person becomes unwell with symptoms of COVID-19, they can report this to the NHS via the app which will mean that other app users who have come into significant contact with that person over the previous few days can be alerted and provided with advice if appropriate.

The first phase of the app rollout is taking place on the Isle of Wight. This will ensure the app is functioning as expected and will help us to see how it works best alongside the web and phone-based systems and to ensure that it dovetails with the testing programme.

Ministers are accountable to Parliament for the Department’s response to COVID-19, including the test and trace programme.

Directors of Public Health and their teams will be key to the local delivery of the test and trace programme.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 23 Apr 2020
Covid-19: Social Care Services

"First, I declare my interests in the register, including as a vice-president of the RNIB and of the Alzheimer’s Society. I am addressing noble Lords today from my experience of four years chairing the social services committee of the City of Sheffield and as shadow Secretary of State for Health …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: Social Care Services
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 22 Apr 2020
Covid-19: Medically Vulnerable People

"To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the restriction of movement on those defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19; and what plans they have to change those restrictions...."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: Medically Vulnerable People
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 22 Apr 2020
Covid-19: Medically Vulnerable People

"My Lords, I appreciate greatly the work that the Minister, his team and his colleagues are doing. I know that he will join me in appreciating the hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and mutual aid programmes at local level across the country as well, who are supporting people who are …..."
Lord Blunkett - View Speech

View all Lord Blunkett (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: Medically Vulnerable People