The comments made by Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business and Energy Minister, on 12 November 2020.
This government has promised to do all it can to provide good quality, secure work as we build back better and greener from coronavirus.
The Green Jobs Taskforce will oversee the UK taking strides towards long-term economic prosperity, as well as transitioning to the new low-carbon green industries of the future.
The comments made by Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 12 November 2020.
Good afternoon, it’s a pleasure to speak to you today.
Governments and businesses around the world are continuing to respond to the immediate and acute challenges posed by the covid pandemic.
But we know that the climate crisis has not taken any time off.
We must ensure that the global recovery delivers a greener, more inclusive and more resilient future for all our peoples.
One that delivers on the commitments of the Paris Agreement and meets the Sustainable Development Goals.
I would like to congratulate President Macron and Secretary-General Guterres for their leadership in holding this event.
The first ever global summit of public development banks.
Finance has a pivotal role in tackling climate change.
The IPCC estimate that limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees would require global energy investments of around $3.5 trillion a year until 2050.
And public finance has a crucial role to play in stimulating private investment.
Last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a plan to double UK climate finance to £11.6bn over the period 2021-2025.
And we call on others to match that ambition.
The OECD has estimated that climate finance from developed countries reached 79 billion dollars in 2018, up 10 percent from the year before.
And that bilateral and multilateral public finance has increased by 64 percent since 2013.
This shows progress, but there is much further to go.
Donors must meet and surpass the goal of mobilising $100 billion a year.
And our COP26 Presidency will focus on working with others to mobilise funds and improve access for adaptation and resilience.
Before COP26, we need to see all public development banks coming forward with clear plans.
Including target dates by which their operations will be fully aligned with the Paris Agreement.
The Finance in Common Summit Declaration will point the way forward for our work.
Focusing on the green recovery and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
And on 12 December, the UK, the UN and France will co-host a Climate Ambition Summit, in partnership with Chile and Italy. And I invite leaders to use this as an opportunity to announce new commitments under the three pillars of the Paris Agreement; mitigation, adaptation and support.
Working together, we can deliver the greener, more inclusive, more resilient future that we all want to see.
Thank you.
The speech made by Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 12 November 2020.
A wise man once said that “the NHS is the best gift a nation ever gave itself”. And throughout this incredibly tough year, at this national time of need, the NHS has been there – as it always is – standing tall to protect us.
But, we all know that this battle against coronavirus is not over yet. And you know better than anybody that the number of hospitalisations are on the rise and we must get this virus under control. And we have seen the very real risk of the NHS being overwhelmed, and so we have acted quickly to make sure that we put in place our new national measures. Because we cannot do this without you, without the NHS. People understand, people feel very deeply, the need to do what they must do to make sure the NHS can be there for us all.
And while we are rightly focused at this moment on the demands of the pandemic and we have thrown everything we have got at making sure that the NHS has what it needs this winter:
– with the extra funding and the Nightingale hospital standing ready once again if needed
– with the increase in the number of doctors and nurses and other staff
– the returners which come back to our wards
– and the upgrades to almost every emergency department in the country
We all know what a huge task is going on right now. But I also today want to cast our eyes forward, to look ahead beyond this critical day-to-day work that we are doing in response to coronavirus and ahead of this winter. I want to ask some crucial questions about the long term, about how we can use the lessons that we have learnt during this crisis to build a better health service for us all.
I have seen so many examples this year of systems working together for the benefit of patients, because that is what system working is all about. I have seen it where hospitals are under pressure with numbers of coronavirus patients. And making sure that the whole NHS comes together to ensure care can be provided.
I have seen healthcare teams working side by side with charities and community groups to offer clinics for hard-to-reach patients. I have seen the phenomenal effort to look after rough sleepers – working together across the system, with local authorities and the NHS side by side. From housing to the NHS, to public health. All to protect the most vulnerable.
I think, in fact I know, that the system works best when it is empowered to work together, when the relationships are strong. And crucially when we remove barriers to our cooperation wherever we find them. To support a better, less fragmented set of decision-making. And to allow the well-rounded care which is vital in a world of complex interrelated conditions.
So, while we work on the day-to-day, so we must learn from how the day-to-day works well and drive this agenda forward, building on the NHS Long Term Plan and working towards a system as the default approach by next year. A systems approach can best serve the interests both of patients and of course of those who are giving the care within the NHS. Because it can give leaders the backing they need to empower them to solve problems in their area. So, whether it is, for instance, breaking down the barriers between community and hospital care, whether it is the joining up health and social care, making sure that prevention and public health agenda are tied together with treatment.
Integration of course is not a ‘silver bullet’ for all problems in healthcare, not by any means. But if we bring to bear the whole wealth and diversity of experience that exists in a local community and learn from where things go well, then we will have a much better chance of helping people live healthier and happier lives for longer. That, after all, is what it is all about.
But building a better NHS is not just about the structures and the systems. I know from talking to so many of you that it is about the culture too. Now of course the culture is underpinned by the legislation in which we operate and by the financial structures that are put in place. But there is an unspoken ethos that drives any organisation. And we must ensure that the culture of how we work together embraces innovation and new ideas and embraces collaboration rather than a silo approach.
During the demands of the pandemic, we have seen how people do their best work because they were trusted to do their job. And here too I want to take forward the lessons that together we have learnt by:
– shedding unnecessary bureaucracy that gets in the way of doing your job
– intensifying our use of the most transformative technologies so that people and clinicians can do their best work and spend more time with patients
– and making it easier to bring the right qualified people to the front line, like of course those returnees
– and like the way we are allowing more people with more clinical qualifications to be trained in order to participate in the vaccination programme
So this is what is behind our People Plan. For the first time ever we have a Chief People Officer in the NHS and Prerana Issar is absolutely brilliant. She has put together a People Plan which is not a single document, it is a whole series of interventions all about showing how we will improve the support we offer to colleagues across the NHS. From practical support like better rest facilities which are so important to people, to the emotional support that is so vital. Every single person working in the NHS has contributed to the unprecedented national effort to beat back this virus and save lives.
And I will do my utmost to protect and support you through this pandemic and beyond. And through our People Plan we will constantly strive to make the NHS a brilliant place to work, that is central to delivering on the promise that the NHS holds out for the people of this country and the patients who we look after and the citizens who we serve.
Now of course coronavirus has also shone a light on some of the inequalities of our health system and the disparities you can find in your health and healthcare depending on your background, where you live, what job you do. We all need to keep working to level up health and care provision. In the same way that as a government we want to level up in education, and housing and so many other areas of our society. And one of the ways that we can do this is by strengthening our public health systems. Not just the standing capacity to respond to future threats to public health through the new National Institute for Health Protection. But also the vital health improvement work. Improving people’s health, which of course improves quality of life and making sure that we support people to get the very best that they can out of life, by making sure we support people to improve their own health.
Now central to this is tackling obesity. And in fact, the coronavirus epidemic and the link from obesity to morbidity has shown yet again how important this agenda is. Our new obesity strategy, which builds upon work of the past, is full of measures to help people make healthier choices.
But there is so much more to do across the whole spectrum of health improvement. We want to embed health improvement more deeply all across the board. And I see this as a critical moment to ensure that we don’t parcel out health improvement and see it as something separate. But see how health improvement is and must be embedded in the work of the NHS, local authorities and so many government departments.
We know that we can help more people to stay out of hospital in the first place. Just as we know that they will get the very best possible medical care when they do come into the NHS. And we all have to lean into the health improvement agenda, especially in primary care. When done right, health improvement has always been at the core of its responsibilities.
Now I know that this has not been an easy year for the NHS. But I also know that when people look back on this tough time in our history, they will be awed by the outstanding contribution that has been made by so many people. And so many people that are taking part in this conference today. You have been there for us, just as you always are. So, I would like to thank you once more, for your incredible efforts and for the efforts that are still to come. You show the country at its best and all of us are in your debt. Thank you.
The statement made by Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 12 November 2020.
Good afternoon. I am joined today by Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England
The average number of new cases each day is now 22,524, compared to 22,398 a week ago.
There are now 14,196 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the UK, compared to 12,406 a week ago.
1,219 patients are now in mechanical ventilation beds, compared to 1,142 a week ago.
And, sadly, another 595 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported yesterday.
The 7 day average daily number of deaths each day in the UK within 28 days of positive test by date reported is now 375, up from 295 a week ago.
Our thoughts are very much with the families and loved ones of those who’ve lost their lives.
Which is a reminder to us, as to why we are taking the action we are, to stop the spread of this virus and ultimately save lives.
Today, we are also reminded about the vital importance of fighting this virus to protect our economy.
Whilst the economy grew by 15% in the third quarter, it slowed in September and remains 8.2% below where we were in February.
We in government understand acutely the human impact this statistic represents.
It’s jobs, livelihoods, and families affected.
So we will continue to support businesses now, and as they recover.
The government has provided unprecedented levels of support for businesses over the past 8 months.
To date, that represents over £200 billion in support.
This is one of the most generous and comprehensive packages of financial support provided in the world, which the International Monetary Fund has praised.
Just this month we have announced an extension of the self-employed grant scheme to March next year.
An extension of the furlough scheme, at 80% until the spring.
Cash grants of up to £3,000 per month for businesses in England, which are required to be closed due to this month’s national restrictions.
These will benefit 600,000 business premises.
And I can confirm today that we will be distributing £2.2 billion to local authorities tomorrow, to allow them to make these vital grant payments to businesses which have been affected.
All of these measures are designed to preserve jobs and help businesses stay afloat.
Today, we have also announced that more than 19,000 jobs have been created so far through our Kickstart Scheme.
These jobs are spread across the country and in a variety of sectors.
I know how hard this job market is, particularly for young job seekers, hoping to enter the workplace for the first time.
The Kickstart Scheme is a ray of hope for young people, and I want to thank all the businesses which have stepped up to participate in this scheme.
I speak to businesses everyday, and I can see, that despite the tough times, they are determined to soldier through this.
Through sheer hard work, innovation, resilience and invoking a real community spirit across the United Kingdom.
For example, in Aberdeenshire, Brewdog has made hand sanitiser to protect our front-line NHS staff.
In Belfast, Axial3D has helped to develop thousands of new ventilators.
In Surrey, Carousel Lights have adapted their manufacturing process to produce ‘sneeze screens’ for GP surgeries, pharmacies, and care homes.
In Caerphilly, Transcend Packaging has converted production lines to create PPE, almost doubling their workforce in just four months.
Because, despite the government’s support, and when it comes down to it, it is you who are keeping this country going.
You who are powering our economic recovery.
Just as our brilliant scientists and researchers are powering ahead in the race to discover a safe and effective vaccine.
A little over 6 months ago, I stood here and announced the creation of the Vaccines Taskforce.
A team of industry experts, scientists and civil servants, with one mission: to secure a vaccine to beat down this virus.
Since then, they have secured access to 350 million doses, through agreements on 6 of the leading candidates in the world.
The Taskforce has demonstrated how we can work together at pace.
Business and science, the NHS and local communities, together forging a path out of this predicament.
But, although this week’s announcement on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is potentially very good news, we still have a lot of hurdles to overcome before we can be certain of its safety and efficacy.
And so we must ensure that we continue to follow the guidance.
To protect our loved ones, our families, our friends, our communities.
Because the virus is still here. It is still a danger.
So we must not lose our resolve now.
We must keep focused.
To protect the health of the nation and the health of the economy.
Working together, supporting each other, we will get through this.
We will come out the other side stronger, more resilient and more united.
Thank you.
The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 13 November 2020.
We want to do everything we can to make it easy for people to include some activity in their daily routines – whether that’s cycling to work or walking safely to school.
We can see the public’s strong appetite for greener and more active travel, and this funding will help ensure the right infrastructure is in place to build truly active neighbourhoods.
The comments made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, on 13 November 2020.
We are in danger of killing our seas. We are warming them up, making them more acidic and every day we fill them with turtle-choking, dolphin-poisoning plastic that is turning our ocean into a vast floating rubbish dump.
That’s why I am delighted that the United Kingdom has now protected more than 4.3 million square kilometres of the world’s ocean, following Tristan da Cunha’s announcement.
I am now calling on other nations to join us in our ambition to protect 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030. We need collective global action if we are to bequeath a world that is every bit as wonderful and magnificent as the one we inherited.
The comments made by Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, on 11 November 2020.
This winter will be colder and potentially more dangerous than the first lockdown, with nowhere near the same protection for people sleeping rough.
It is disgraceful that the Government is turning its back on rough sleepers at a time when they need the most help.
The comments made by Jonathan Reynolds, the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on 11 November 2020.
There must be an urgent internal investigation into how this breach happened, why the information was in the public domain for so long and what steps the Government will be taking to restore people’s trust.
This breach not only damages public trust in the Government but may also mean more taxpayers money is wasted due to Government incompetence.
An apology and inquiry are urgently needed to ensure this never happens again.
The comments made by Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Shadow Home Secretary, on 11 November 2020.
It is a disgrace that the report into allegations of bullying against the Home Secretary is being suppressed.
Continuing to refuse to release the report not only makes clear that the Tories have something to hide, it also undermines trust in politics at a crucial time. The report must be published without further delay.
The comments made by Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, on 12 November 2020.
These latest figures show the Government’s Kickstart scheme is failing to deliver for young people, creating opportunities for just 3% of the 600,000 young people unemployed. The Government must be much more ambitious if we are to prevent a generation scarred by long term unemployment.
It is worrying that months into this jobs crisis we still have no plan from this Government to tackle rising unemployment and get Britain back to work.