Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to reopen golf courses closed in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Sports and physical activity including golf are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. Golf courses were one of the first sports facilities to be reopened following the initial lockdown and they were also able to stay open in the local tiered restrictions.
On Monday 22 February, the Prime Minister announced a roadmap out of the current lockdown in England. The approach focuses on data, not dates. Each step has a “no earlier than” date, 5 weeks later than the previous step, to allow time to assess the impact of the previous step and provide a week’s notice before changes occur. As part of step one, outdoor sports facilities like tennis and basketball courts, golf courses, including adventure golf will be opened from 29 March, subject to social contact limits.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to permit horse riding lessons to resume as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Sports and physical activity including horse riding are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus.
On Monday 4 January the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown and instructed people to stay at home to control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives. The National Restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions and include closing riding centres. The restrictions will remain in place until this situation improves.
You can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, in a public outdoor place and you should not travel outside your local area. You should maintain social distancing. Indoor and outdoor sports facilities must close. The Prime Minister is due to set out a roadmap to recovery this week.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the risk of infection from covid-19 in outdoor (a) school sport and (b) children's club sports.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. That’s why we made sure that people could exercise at least once a day even during the height of lockdown - and why we opened up grassroots sport and leisure facilities as soon as it was safe to do so.
Nobody wanted to be in the position of having to introduce further National Restrictions. However as the Prime Minister said, with the virus spreading faster than expected we cannot allow our health system to be overwhelmed. Therefore, from Thursday 5 November until Wednesday 2 December indoor and outdoor leisure will need to close. The National Restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions.
People are still allowed to leave their homes for exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household or on your own, or with one person from another household or support bubble. We will continue to prioritise the wellbeing and long-term futures of our young people, which is why schools will remain open. Children can continue to take part in sport at school, which includes swimming lessons where schools are providing them.
The Government is happy to provide the scientific data on which the decision for a national lockdown has been made. The difficulty is that, when you unpick one thing, the effectiveness of the whole package is compromised.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the EU Commission on the effect of 5G on human health.
Answered by Margot James
Ministers have regular meetings with other ministers on a range of subjects. The Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (their Executive Agency, who offer independent scientific advice) lead on health issues for Government.
Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for advising Government on the public health aspects of exposure to radio waves, including those from mobile phone base stations and other radio transmitters in the environment. Central to this advice is that exposure to radio waves should comply with the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP); who are formally recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the effect of 5G on human health.
Answered by Margot James
Ministers have regular meetings with other ministers on a range of subjects. The Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (their Executive Agency, who offer independent scientific advice) lead on health issues for Government.
Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for advising Government on the public health aspects of exposure to radio waves, including those from mobile phone base stations and other radio transmitters in the environment. Central to this advice is that exposure to radio waves should comply with the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP); who are formally recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will fund a study on the biological impact of 5G radiation after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Margot James
Ministers have regular meetings with other ministers on a range of subjects. The Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (their Executive Agency, who offer independent scientific advice) lead on health issues for Government.
Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for advising Government on the public health aspects of exposure to radio waves, including those from mobile phone base stations and other radio transmitters in the environment. Central to this advice is that exposure to radio waves should comply with the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP); who are formally recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).