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19th March 2020
Posted by Johnny Jenkins
Yesterday in the House of Commons, John Baron MP pressed the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Luke Hall MP, on support for elderly and vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak.
In the House of Commons, John Baron MP asked:
“Although I appreciate the “dear colleague” letter we have all received and what the Minister has just said, there is still a vulnerable group of people who risk being overlooked by the Government’s initiatives, and that is the elderly and vulnerable who live on their own, whether or not they are ill. There is a risk that they will be inadvertently overlooked in such a scenario and in such extraordinary times. As a society, we have to reach out to them.”
“I urge the Minister to look at this again because, at the moment, that group does not feature in any Government initiative. The Government should be sending a clear message that they will provide whatever support it takes for local councils to reach out to those people. Many may be in rural settings, but there may be a lot in the city, too. Local councils should reach out, locate them, identify them and offer help, if necessary tying in local charitable causes or charities to help them in that assistance. The message must go out to local government to reach out, because we do not want anyone to be left behind.”
The Minister responded by saying that work has already started on this issue, and that further information will be available in the weeks ahead.
John then asked:
“This is not just about those who may be self-isolating or who may be ill; it is about people living on their own who we simply do not know about, whether or not they are healthy. We have to reach out and find out. Is that what the Minister is saying from the Dispatch Box?”
The Minister responded giving that assurance.
John said afterwards:
“It is important that this group of people is not left behind. It is good news that the Government recognises this but further actions will be required.”
Image:
Image: UK Parliament
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