07Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Common-sense for public sector staff to be able to access Covid-19 App

Common-sense for public sector staff to be able to access Covid-19 App

Borough news
Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, was disappointed to discover recently that his Oldham Council-issued business smart phone would not permit him to download the new Government recommended Track and Trace Covid-19 App without special permission.  He has now contacted senior officers at the Council to suggest that the App be allowed to be downloaded onto every Council-electronic device used by its employees.  This suggestion is now being rolled out across the board. But Councillor Sykes has now gone one further.  He has written to Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE, who in addition to being Chief Executive at Oldham Council, is the national officer lead on Track and Trace, to request that all public sector organisations in Oldham also ensure that their employees will also be able to access…
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11Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
COVID-19 testing falling dangerously short of expectations

COVID-19 testing falling dangerously short of expectations

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the COVID-19 R rate has risen above 1 across the UK, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said:  “People will be rightly alarmed by these figures. No one wants to see a second wave of this dreadful virus. "A robust system to test, trace and isolate every coronavirus case remains essential to keep people safe as we open up our economy and society more and more. The current situation - with many people unable to access testing at all - continues to fall dangerously short of expectations.  "If we are to prevent a second wave we need rapid action to bring our test and trace system up to scratch, as well as absolute clarity in public health messaging. If the Government can't get…
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03Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Three in 10 still not being contacted to isolate

Three in 10 still not being contacted to isolate

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Government missing its 80% target for a tenth consecutive week, with more than 3 in 10 close contacts of people testing positive for COVID-19 not being contacted, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “With children going back to school, the priority has to be keeping people safe. Instead, Ministers have failed to deliver a comprehensive strategy to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus. "It is utterly unacceptable. The public deserves to know what is going wrong. That’s why the Liberal Democrats are calling for an independent inquiry to be launched now so we can learn lessons to prevent further spread of the virus."
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30Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Missed test and trace targets show need for inquiry

Missed test and trace targets show need for inquiry

Parliamentary news
Responding to figures revealing the Government's test and trace system has missed its 80% target for a ninth consecutive week, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “With students going back to school and autumn arriving, the priority must be keeping people safe as lockdown is eased. "Despite it being months since we went into lockdown, 1 in 4 close contacts are consistently not being contacted. The Government must take a serious look at its efforts to deliver the comprehensive strategy to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus that is needed to keep people safe. "Given the multitude of mistakes made by this Government throughout the pandemic, an inquiry must be launched now so that all levels of Government can learn lessons to prevent further spread of the…
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10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lack of test and trace leaving local authorities blind-folded with regional lockdowns

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that a rise in coronavirus cases in Preston has led the Government to reintroduce lockdown measures in that area, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: "The Government must act now to reassure people in the Preston area that they are managing this serious outbreak. This is difficult when the Prime Minister has yet again brought in a regional lockdown without a press conference. "Ministers must urgently examine the data and act immediately if necessary, hand in hand with local government, to keep people safe. "However, this has not happened. Ministers have utterly failed to make sure we have a comprehensive test, trace and isolate system in place. This has left local authorities blind-folded whilst having to try and stop the spread of coronavirus in their…
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10Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must provide practical and financial support ahead of schools opening fully

Government must provide practical and financial support ahead of schools opening fully

Parliamentary news
Responding to comments from the Prime Minister that reopening schools fully is a "national priority", Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “Months of remote learning has seen too many pupils left behind. It is absolutely right to prioritise getting children back to school. "To do so, school leaders, teachers, parents and pupils need to have real confidence that schools will be COVID-safe come September. A comprehensive test, trace and isolate system is critical to reopening classrooms as safely as possible. Ministers need to work with local authorities to improve the NHS Test and Trace service, which is still failing to reach enough close contacts. "The Government must also use these last vital weeks to ensure school leaders have the practical and financial support they need ahead of opening fully.…
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07Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Govt must act to strengthen NHS Test and Trace ahead of new school year

Govt must act to strengthen NHS Test and Trace ahead of new school year

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that scientists have warned that current testing and contact tracing is inadequate to prevent a second wave of coronavirus when schools in the UK reopen, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Layla Moran said:  “After months being cooped up at home, millions of children are looking forward to getting back to school in September, but safety must remain the top priority. "In the absence of a vaccine, a comprehensive test, trace and isolate system is the only way to keep people safe as we reopen schools. The Government must do everything in its power to strengthen that system if we are to have any hope of a safe start to the new school year.  "Equally, the Government need to be honest about the very real risk that, if they…
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20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Test and trace privacy fiasco yet another blunder by Ministers

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that privacy campaigners have accused the Government's test and trace programme of breaking data protection laws, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The fact that the Government have potentially broken the law is just another example of Ministers’ disastrous handling of test and trace. For the Department of Health to admit there was no consideration on the impact this would have on our privacy shows that this Government is simply walking into blunder after blunder, failing to get a grip on this crisis. "Of course mass testing, contact tracing and isolation at the community level for those who test positive, is the only safe way out of lockdown, but protecting individuals’ privacy remains of the utmost importance. "The Liberal Democrats have been clear that…
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20Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government’s school funding plan shows no understanding of challenges facing schools

Parliamentary news
Responding to the publication of the Government’s funding allocations for schools in 2021-22, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The Conservatives’ spending plans show no understanding of the challenges facing schools in September. They have asked schools to open as normal when our Test and Trace system is faulty. Teachers must try to reverse the harm to children’s learning, development and mental health, when many disadvantaged children have disappeared off schools’ radars entirely during lockdown. “In the face of this crisis, spending plans announced last year are utterly unfit for purpose. All the Government has added is a catch-up premium worth just £80 per pupil per year, and a tutoring fund. It’s simply not enough to pay for the small group teaching that Ministers say our children need. “The…
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16Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

People deserve better than this Government’s NHS Test and Trace system

Parliamentary news
Responding to statistics out today that reveal NHS Test and Trace has only reached 71.1% of 'close contacts' of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The coronavirus crisis is taking an enormous toll and people are rightly worried about loved ones. The only way to allay fears and keep people safe is with a comprehensive strategy to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus. "Under the leadership of this Prime Minister, however, it is becoming clearer that the Government failed to prepare. It is no wonder a management consultancy has been drafted in to get things right, but at what cost? "People deserve better. The Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Prime Minister's feet to the fire to ensure the…
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