Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has he made of the potential effectiveness of cotrimoxazole in the treatment of covid-19.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Department is considering carefully all available evidence around the potential of different drugs for use in treating COVID-19, including from clinical trials in the United Kingdom and overseas. NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the National Institute for Health Research Innovation Observatory are working together through the RAPID-C19 oversight group as part of a multi-agency approach to ensure any products deemed safe and effective in clinical trials to treat COVID-19 can rapidly be brought into wider use across the National Health Service in the UK.
There are currently no UK clinical trials investigating cotrimoxazole in the treatment of COVID-19; however, we are aware of two Phase II trials using this product running in Bangladesh and Greece. These studies have not yet reported results.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the arrangements are for relatives who wish to visit family members who are residents in care homes in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Our aim is to enable residents to be reunited safely with their loved ones. This guidance will be updated as the risk posed by COVID-19 continues to change.
On 22 July 2020 the Government published updated guidance on visiting arrangements for care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus
Our first priority is to prevent infections in care homes and therefore visits should be carried out with caution.
Care homes can develop their visiting policies based on a local dynamic risk assessment, taking into account the circumstances and needs of the individual care setting, including both residents and staff, and the external COVID-19 environment. The process of considering visitors should be led by the relevant local Director of Public Health.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the timescale is for allowing amateur brass bands to resume rehearsals and perform during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
We are committed to getting the performing arts sector fully back up and running as soon as it is safe to do so. It is a priority of my department to work with the arts and cultural sectors to address the challenges of reopening. We have released guidance to support the performing arts sector resume activity in line with the roadmap announced by the Secretary of State last month.
Playing wind and brass instruments, especially in groups, are considered higher risk activities because of the potential for aerosol production and the absence presently of developed scientific analysis to assess this specific risk. The evidence is being developed rapidly. Whilst further evidence is being developed, we advise that non-professional groups should not play brass instruments at this stage and should only do activities in line with government guidance on social mixing.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will allow an appeals process which takes into account pupil-specific data for schools to challenge GCSE grades awarded during the covid-19 outbreak in 2020.
Answered by Nick Gibb
This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether passengers on private tour coaches will be required to socially distance while (a) wearing and (b) not wearing face coverings during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Safer Travel guidance recommends that where it is not possible to keep a 2 metre distance, such as in enclosed spaces, passengers should maintain a 1 metre distance where possible and take suitable precautions, such as wearing a face covering, not directly facing other passengers and regularly washing or sanitising their hands.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing coaches and buses to operate without social distancing but with the compulsory wearing of facemasks by passengers and other similar measures.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
It is a Government priority to ensure that passengers can travel safely on public transport. On 15 June, it became law that passengers must wear a face covering when travelling on public transport services in England. Following a review of social distancing guidelines, from 4 July, where it is not always possible to stay two metres apart, passengers should try to?keep a social distance of ‘one metre plus’, taking actions which reduce the risk of transmission, such as wearing a face covering, not directly facing other passengers and regularly washing or sanitising your hands.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Written Statement of 29 June 2020, HCWS319, on Capital Update, whether capital funding for further education can be used for information technology upgrades on college campuses.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
In March this year, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor, announced that we are going to transform further education colleges across the country, investing £1.5 billion of new capital over the next five years, starting in 2021. On 29 June, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced that the Department for Education will bring forward £200 million of this capital funding this year to further education colleges in England. This will enable colleges to undertake immediate remedial work in this financial year to upgrade the condition of their estates and infrastructure. We will announce further details about how this funding will be allocated in due course.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for civil service HR and shared services.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office is responsible for the supervision of the overall work of the Cabinet Office across all policy areas.
Further to the answer given to PQ 43737 on 11 May 2020, details of areas of responsibility for junior ministers will be published in due course.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for fraud, error, debt and grants.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office is responsible for the supervision of the overall work of the Cabinet Office across all policy areas.
Further to the answer given to PQ 43737 on 11 May 2020, details of areas of responsibility for junior ministers will be published in due course.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June to Question 59509 on Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility, which Minister is responsible for the Geospatial Commission.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office is responsible for the supervision of the overall work of the Cabinet Office across all policy areas.
Further to the answer given to PQ 43737 on 11 May 2020, details of areas of responsibility for junior ministers will be published in due course.