Prime Minister's Questions: 25 March 2020

Today's PMQs lasted one hour, rather than the usual half an hour. 12 questions were allocated to the Leader of the Opposition and four to the SNP Westminster Leader.

Questions from the Leader of the Opposition

• Mr Corbyn asked the Prime Minister:
  • why the Prime Minister did not write to research institutes to ask for coronavirus testing machines earlier, in reference to a leaked email that showed he had asked this past weekend. Mr Corbyn asked what further actions were taking place to obtain testing equipment.
  • when social care staff will be getting tested for coronavirus.
  • how the Prime Minister plans to ensure care workers get the vital food and supplies they need for the people they are caring for. Supermarkets are now often sold out of goods.
  • when NHS staff will get the personal protection equipment (PPE) that they need. The Healthcare Supply Association has been forced to ask hardware shops on Twitter to source equipment. Mr Corbyn said that NHS chiefs have said lack of testing and lack of PPE are their biggest concerns.
  • if the Prime Minister will ban evictions for six months. Mr Corbyn said that the Prime Minister had agreed to this but "appears to have gone back on his word".
  • what the Government is doing to "bring people home" and cover medical costs accrued by those stranded abroad.
  • why construction sites for non-emergency projects were still open and construction workers having to go to work.
  • why it has taken the Prime Minister "so long" to guarantee income for all self-employed workers (who were not covered in the Chancellor's package announced last week).
  • if the Prime Minister give extra resources to boost the DWP's capacity to handle Universal Credit claims, amid reports that hundreds of thousands of people were trying to make claims. Mr Corbyn also asked him to relax the "draconian" requirements for Universal Credit and speed up the process for claimants.
  • if the Prime Minister will increase statutory sick pay and give protection and access to benefits to those on zero-hour contracts.
  • how the Government will "open itself to scrutiny" while Parliament is in recess so that the Government can be held to account.
  • This wasthe last PMQs for theLeader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn.
  • Mr Corbynbegan by thanking the NHS staff, public sector workers, supermarket staffand, particularly,cleaners working to keep up safe.
  • He closed his remarks by saying that the crisis has shown us how we depend on each other: "at times like this we have to recognise the value of each other and the strength of a society that cares for each other and cares for all."

Questions from the Scottish National Party's Westminster Leader

• Mr Blackford asked the Prime Minister:
  • why a full package of support for the self-employed was not put in place before the lockdown.
  • if, when the Chancellor announces his plans to support self-employed workers (on Thursday) there will be "parity and equality of support" between the job retention scheme announced last week and proposals to aid the self-employed.
  • that we owe it to all of the "heroes" in the NHS, including doctors, nurses and cleaners, to stay at home if we are "non-essential workers".
  • if the Prime Minister will "send out the message" that nobody should be evicted for a six month period during the pandemic.

  
  The Scottish National Party's Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford, asked about support for the self-employed, a freeze on evictions for private renters, and NHS staff.

Full list of topics and questioners