Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of (a) restrictions on travel and (b) reductions in availability of public transport during the covid-19 outbreak on the ability of hon. Members to participate in debates; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The Government guidance is clear that you should continue to travel for work where it is not possible to do so from home. It is the Government’s strong view that Parliament best serves the UK public when MPs are present in Westminster, carrying out their essential functions. We have ensured that Members who cannot be here for a range of reasons can vote by proxy and participate in interrogative proceedings. Members’ travel arrangements and public transport do not fall under the Leader of the House’s portfolio of responsibilities but all Members must wear face coverings where mandated on public transport and I would encourage all to follow the Government’s guidance on this and other measures such as social distancing.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of reintroducing virtual parliamentary proceedings during the autumn 2020 covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to an urgent question on Monday 16 November 2020, available at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-11-16/debates/5A282C48-FAE0-4214-8B3E-EE545E2C6DF7/ParticipationInDebates
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Glasgow Central of 18 December 2016 on his promise to draw the Ministry of Justice's attention to three constituency cases affected by Tier 1 immigration tribunal delays.
Answered by David Lidington
I understand that the Minister of State for Courts and Justice will shortly be responding to the concerns raised in the hon. Member for Glasgow Central’s letter.