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1719916

registered interest
date	21/05/2024
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of excess deaths that have arisen as a consequence of restrictions and lockdowns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Weir of Ballyholme
uin	HL4838
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2024 answer text <p>Excess deaths are the difference between the number of registered deaths and the number expected based on previous trends. Weekly estimates of excess deaths are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Its latest data shows that for the years 2020 to 2022, there were an estimated 151,506 estimated excess deaths in England.</p><p>It is likely that deaths from COVID-19 were a large driver of excess deaths in the peak pandemic periods. Deaths were above the expected level for most of the second half of 2021, and from March 2022 until the summer of 2023; however, deaths have been below the expected level for most weeks since then.</p><p>The drivers of excess deaths are not fully understood, and the excess is likely to be the net effect of many complex and potentially related factors. The attribution of excess deaths to these factors is complex and beyond the scope of the ONS methodology. The UK Health Security Agency has estimated the excess deaths due to acute factors, such as heatwaves, cold snaps, COVID-19 and influenza.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham grouped question UIN HL4839 question first answered 24/05/2024 13:41:50 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4970 label Biography information for Lord Weir of Ballyholme

1624578

registered interest
date	27/04/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on immunocompromised people arising from (1) shutting down the Anti-Viral task force, (2) ending any stakeholder engagement through the Enhanced Protection Programme, (3) withdrawing vaccine boosters for the families of the immunocompromised, (4) ending the collection of data on Covid infections via the Office for National Statistics, and (5) ending access to anti-virals through the Covid Medicines Delivery Units and transferring this to GPs; and what steps they are taking to enhance the protection of the clinically vulnerable community from COVID-19.
tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
uin	HL7531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2023 answer text <p>Those that remain at higher risk from COVID-19 remain a priority for the Government and continue to be offered enhanced protections such as treatments, booster vaccines, free lateral flow tests and public health advice.</p><p>Functions of the Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce (ATTF) have now moved to different parts of the Department and the National Health Service. The NHS will continue to deliver treatment for COVID-19 patients and will operate in line with evidence-based recommendations from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, following the established processes in this area.</p><p>Following the closure of the enhanced protection programme stakeholder forum, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recognises the importance of continuing to engage with patient charities and other stakeholders, and further information on continuing stakeholder engagement will be shared in due course.</p><p>On 27 January 2023 the Government accepted Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) interim advice that there could be a further booster programme in autumn 2023 for those at higher risk of severe COVID-19 in preparation for winter 2023 to 2024. JCVI will continue its rolling review of the vaccination programme and will provide further advice on which groups including carers and family members of immunosuppressed individuals should be included in the autumn 2023 COVID-19 vaccination programme in due course.</p><p>The approach to COVID-19 surveillance is being actively reviewed to ensure it is proportionate, cost effective and considered alongside how we monitor a range of other infectious diseases that present a similar threat.</p><p>The UKHSA will continue to publish regular reports on COVID-19 which will contribute to our situational awareness. These include our weekly surveillance reports, which provide data on infection rates and hospitalisation numbers. We also maintain the ability to track the latest variants through our genomics capabilities which assess the risks posed by different strains of the virus.</p><p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the continued delivery of COVID-19 treatments, including where appropriate transitioning the delivery of community-based COVID-19 treatments away from covid medicines delivery unit to routine care pathways by the end of June. ICBs have the flexibility to create a routine patient access pathway that best meets local needs and circumstances, including for immunocompromised patients.</p><p>NHS England is working closely with local health systems, supporting ICBs to develop service delivery plans which ensure continued timely access to assessment and treatment that meet the needs of their local populations. To support the transition away from pandemic-specific arrangements NHS England is regularly engaging with charities, patient groups and other stakeholders to understand where national and local action may be required to ensure transition readiness.</p><p>NHS England is providing national communications to patients, healthcare professionals and local system leaders to ensure clarity on upcoming changes.</p><p>Highest risk patients will continue to have access to free tests, however the way patients will access tests may change later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 16/05/2023 15:33:26 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1613054

registered interest
date	20/04/2023
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total cost to the economy to date of COVID-19-related lockdowns.
tabling member printed	Lord Dobbs
uin	HL7341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2023 answer text <p>The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the UK economy. Between 2019 Q4 and 2020 Q2, according to the Office for National Statistics the economy contracted by 23% - the steepest recession on record.</p><p> </p><p>The success of the UK’s vaccination campaign lead to a strong recovery in GDP, with annual growth of 7.5% in 2021 and 4.1% in 2022. In both these years, GDP growth in the UK was the fastest in the G7.</p><p> </p><p>The Government acted quickly to prevent catastrophic increases in unemployment during the pandemic. The Government provided up to £400 billion of direct support for the economy which helped to safeguard jobs, businesses and public services in every region and nation of the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Treasury is engaging constructively with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, which plans to examine the Government’s responses to the pandemic.</p> answering member printed Baroness Penn question first answered 04/05/2023 13:03:55 answering member 4726 label Biography information for Baroness Penn
tabling member	4192 label Biography information for Lord Dobbs

1608435

registered interest
date	28/03/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that family members of, and carers for, people in the clinical risk groups are not recommended to receive COVID-19 booster vaccinations, what steps they are taking to protect people in clinical risk groups from contracting COVID-19.
tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
uin	HL6941
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2023 answer text <p>As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement titled ‘Approach to Managing Covid-19’ on 30 March 2023, in 2023/24 the Government will maintain a range of capabilities to protect those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Given the continued effectiveness of vaccines and improved treatments, for most people there is a much lower risk of severe illness compared to earlier in the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>We will therefore continue to encourage people to take up the vaccines to which they are entitled, and we will continue to fund and provide COVID-19 testing, to manage outbreaks in some high-risk settings and to enable access to treatments for those who are eligible. We will also maintain essential COVID-19 surveillance activities in the community, primary and secondary care, and in high-risk settings. Additionally, we will retain proportionate capability for testing in the event of a COVID-19 wave or variant that results in a significant increase in pressure on the National Health Service.</p><p> </p><p>Vaccination does not significantly limit transmission, so there is no strong reason to prioritise vaccination for carers of those who are at high risk of severe illness.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 12/04/2023 13:39:05 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1601499

registered interest
date	06/03/2023
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 14 February (HL5363), what data they are utilising (1) to monitor emerging COVID-19 variants, and (2) to assess their potential impact; and what specific surveillance arrangements are in place to assist this assessment.
tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
uin	HL6154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes regular monitoring of United Kingdom and international SARS-CoV-2 genomic data to detect and characterise new variants. In the UK, this includes data from routine testing and surveillance studies, with variant evaluation currently based on data from multiple sources. UK genomics surveillance is primarily conducted through healthcare associated sites such as hospitals and Office for National Statistics community sampling, with international data being obtained from the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data which includes genetic sequence and related clinical and epidemiological data.</p><p> </p><p>The potential impact is considered first based on the relative fitness advantage (the lineage growth rate), national and international geographic dispersion, and/or mutation profile in relation to immune response or therapeutic efficacy, using genomic sequence data. Analysis is discussed at multidisciplinary expert meetings where further laboratory virology investigations can be triggered to add confidence to the risk assessment.</p><p> </p><p>UKHSA is utilising strong surveillance capabilities, rooted in the highest-quality data systems, data architecture and analytics to anticipate, prepare for and respond to health risks, including emerging COVID-19 variants. UKHSA is currently working with the Department to consider next steps for the future of surveillance programmes.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 16/03/2023 16:56:03 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1599719

registered interest
date	27/02/2023
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants who were issued fixed-penalty notices in relation to gatherings in Downing Street that broke the COVID-19 rules, are still working in any of the buildings in Downing Street.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL5898
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government does not hold this information; this was an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police.</p><p><br>Notwithstanding, I would refer the noble peer to the report published by the Second Permanent Secretary of 25 May 2022, and the Government's response of 25 May 2022, Official Report, House of Commons, Cols. 295-297.</p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 02/03/2023 15:38:51 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1537036

registered interest
date	27/10/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Government Counter-Fraud Function’s previous estimate that 57 per cent of COVID-19 expenditure was at ”a high or very high fraud risk”, what is their current estimate of the level of risk surrounding COVID-19 health expenditure.
tabling member printed	Lord Sikka
uin	HL2990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2022 answer text <p>We estimate that approximately 49% to 51% of COVID-19 health expenditure is at high or very high level of fraud risk.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 08/11/2022 13:09:29 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4885 label Biography information for Lord Sikka

1491743

registered interest
date	21/07/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to publicise findings from the SIREN study, and data from this and other studies about the protective effects against reinfection and serious illness of infection-acquired immunity (unboosted by vaccination).
tabling member printed	Lord Farmer
uin	HL2009
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/08/2022 answer text <p>Scientific papers and reports from the SIREN study are being publicised online through the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and in scientific journals. In addition, the study’s participant retention programme includes regular webinars, newsletters and videos to share its results and findings.</p><p> </p><p>On 22 July 2022, the UKHSA published SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England Technical briefing 44 with data on trends in primary infections and reinfections. A copy of the technical briefing is attached.</p><p>The Office for National Statistics’ COVID-19 Infection Survey publishes analysis on re-infections and the associated risk factors and symptoms. An updated assessment, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19, UK: 20 July 2022. Characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19 from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, was published on 20 July 2022. A copy of the assessment is attached.</p> answering member printed Lord Kamall attachment 1 file name SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation_ technical briefing 44 (22 July 2022) (1).pdf title Sars 2 file name Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19, UK - Office for National Statistics (1).pdf title Survey question first answered 02/08/2022 12:20:41 answering member 4909 label Biography information for Lord Kamall
tabling member	4321 label Biography information for Lord Farmer

1464287

registered interest
date	18/05/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 27 April (HL7561), what conclusions they have reached following meetings with groups representing the immunocompromised community on how they can be involved in (1) creating, and (2) disseminating, (a) communication, and (b) guidance, to people about how to safely manage their ongoing risk.
tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
uin	HL347
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2022 answer text <p>We regularly engage with charities and patient organisation representing and supporting immunocompromised and immunosuppressed people. Further to discussions with these groups, we are establishing an engagement forum for charities and patient organisations to discuss issues relating to the enhanced protection programme and to seek the views of these stakeholders in advance of any updates to guidance. We will continue to update these stakeholders on the enhanced protection programme through webinars, meetings and correspondence.</p><p> </p><p>The enhanced protection programme is a tripartite scheme administered by the Department, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Dame Jenny Harries, the Chief Executive of the UKHSA, is the senior responsible owner for the</p><p>programme. There is no formal process for designating patient organisations as stakeholders for the programme.</p> answering member printed Lord Kamall grouped question UIN HL348 HL349 question first answered 06/06/2022 10:59:57 answering member 4909 label Biography information for Lord Kamall
tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1464288

registered interest
date	18/05/2022
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) communicate, and (2) consult, with (a) charities, and (b) patient organisations, as part of the COVID-19 enhanced protection programme (EPP); and what format this will take.
tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
uin	HL348
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2022 answer text <p>We regularly engage with charities and patient organisation representing and supporting immunocompromised and immunosuppressed people. Further to discussions with these groups, we are establishing an engagement forum for charities and patient organisations to discuss issues relating to the enhanced protection programme and to seek the views of these stakeholders in advance of any updates to guidance. We will continue to update these stakeholders on the enhanced protection programme through webinars, meetings and correspondence.</p><p> </p><p>The enhanced protection programme is a tripartite scheme administered by the Department, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Dame Jenny Harries, the Chief Executive of the UKHSA, is the senior responsible owner for the</p><p>programme. There is no formal process for designating patient organisations as stakeholders for the programme.</p> answering member printed Lord Kamall grouped question UIN HL347 HL349 question first answered 06/06/2022 10:59:57 answering member 4909 label Biography information for Lord Kamall
tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn