Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether prohibiting a British resident overseas to travel to be with close family is in accordance with (1) domestic, and (2) international, human rights provisions.
Answered by Lord Bethell
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why a UK citizen officially resident in the European Union is not permitted to travel from the UK under COVID-19 regulations to be united with close family, but close family members are permitted to travel to the UK for this purpose.
Answered by Lord Bethell
A United Kingdom citizen who is officially resident in the European Union and who is in England temporarily would have a reasonable excuse to leave the UK, including where they are travelling to be reunited with close family.
Travel to the UK is not permitted if an individual has visited or passed through a country where travel to the UK is banned in the last 10 days, unless they are a British national, an Irish national or anyone with residence rights in the UK. This system allows those who live in the UK to return to their home country but manages the risk of importing new COVID-19 cases.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK citizens who are resident abroad are permitted (1) to enter, and (2) to leave, the UK while the restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic are in place.
Answered by Lord Bethell
For those seeking to enter the United Kingdom, from countries where an international travel ban has been imposed, they will be required to quarantine for ten days in a managed quarantine facility. These new measures are for those who cannot be denied entry to the UK from travel ban countries including returning British and Irish nationals, visa holders and permanent residents. All other international arrivals must quarantine at home and take the mandatory tests.
For those looking to leave the UK, it is illegal to travel abroad without a legally permitted reason to do so. The legally permitted reasons include to carry out work that cannot be done from home, for medical appointments and for educational reason. Anyone choosing to travel should consider the public health advice in the country they are visiting.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require local authorities to maintain stockpiles of personal protection equipment.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Government is not requiring local authorities to maintain stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE). Nevertheless, on 14 August the Department wrote to local resilience forums (LRFs) to advise on the management of COVID-19 stockpiles of PPE. The majority of LRFs have now been provided with stockpile deliveries of PPE. This will help create local reserves that can be used to manage any temporary increases in demand associated with any potential COVID-19 spike, winter pressures or any other temporary issues with distribution mechanisms. In the case where an LRF uses over 30% of its stock of any PPE item from their stockpile, the Department will arrange further deliveries from centrally managed supplies.