Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020 Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department of Health and Social Care
Baroness Jolly
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Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020
Baroness Jolly Excerpts(3 years, 9 months ago)
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Baroness Jolly (LD) [V]
My Lords, these regulations go some way towards easing the coronavirus restrictions and I am grateful to the Minister for the clarifications. Many people will now be glad of the opportunity to eat out, but I know that some owners feel that the time is not yet right to open, and some diners may be happier staying at home. The regulations include a new power for the Health Secretary to restrict access to a specified public outdoor space. That could include public gardens, open country and access land. Can the Minister confirm whether it could include beaches? How will a repeat of the Bournemouth mass occupation be avoided? Can the Minister also tell the House how the testing of wastewater is being used to identify outbreaks across the country?
We are debating these measures retrospectively as the restrictions were imposed before we could have our debate. We are in strange times, but we do live in a parliamentary democracy, and that should not mean that we have to accept a loss of parliamentary oversight.