conservativehome--2020-03-23--The persuasive case against the claim that there is mass ‘panic buying’

One of the most striking stories to come out of the unfolding COVID-19 crisis has been that of ‘ panic buying ’ .
Photos of supermarkets stripped bare and stories of key workers being unable to buy essentials has made for harrowing coverage .
The narrative of ‘ selfish hoarders ’ has not taken long to take hold in the press or on social media , where some have also suggested it vindicates the idea of we ‘ Anglo-Saxons ’ as more self-centred than our neighbours on the continent , where there are not similar reports .
But it isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some very well-informed commentators have started to push back , very persuasively , against the idea that the UK is in the grip of mass panic-buying .
Their case , set out here by Greg Callus of the Financial Times , is both simple and plausible : that our incredibly efficient , just-in-time supply chain-driven supermarkets are struggling to adapt to an extraordinarily sudden shift in an entire nation ’ s shopping habits .
A whole system built around predicting demand and minimising waste or excess storage was always going to need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if there are no actual shortages .
For a small urban supermarket such as a Tesco Metro or Little Waitrose to end up with empty shelves , all that ’ s required is for the commuters who normally stop in there for a few bits on their way home to try and do a bigger shop .
And as Stephen Bush points out in the New Statesman , these are just the sort of supermarket most likely to be frequented by journalists .
Their excitable coverage may very well have helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and exacerbated what was initially quite a small problem .
It will also have focused on instances of bad behaviour , magnifying such acts in the public imagination and building a potentially misleading impression of the shopping public .
In fact this reflects a broader problem , which long predates the coronavirus crisis , of media coverage over-emphasising the experiences of the cities ( especially London ) in which the media class live .
Supermarket shortages are definitely not just confined to London – stories crop up in the Yorkshire Post , Birmingham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star , and Manchester Evening News – but there is still a danger of over-estimating the extent to which this represents the national picture – as Callus argues , urban supermarkets are those whose supply model is most vulnerable to even a small shift in demand if it is not foreseen .
Similarly , the headline figure that the British have spent an extra £1 billion on groceries over the past few weeks needs to be put into perspective .
Spread over the number of people shopping and the overall value of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t all that much – especially when you factor in the number of people needing to eat at home who would previously have picked up one or more of their meals at work or otherwise out .
And as for those stories about well-stocked shelves in European supermarkets , it can ’ t just be put down to greater civic-mindedness on the part of the citizenry – several continental countries have imposed much stronger formal restrictions on movement than Britain .
As the Sun notes : “ …supermarkets in Italy , France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many people can enter a store at one time .
In parts of Italy , the country worst hit by the deadly virus , customers can visit a supermarket only every 48 hours and must stand three metres apart.
” None of this is to say that there isn ’ t a problem , even if actual hoarders are a much smaller part of it than press coverage might lead you to believe .
Ministers must ensure that key workers , the elderly , and other at-risk groups are able to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several measures both the Government and supermarkets have announced over the past week , including food packages for the most vulnerable and coordinated deliveries , we ought to expect the sector to adapt its supply chains to the new conditions in time .
Ministers can always supplement this with stronger legal restrictions if needed .
A misleading portrait of the national mood is not just unflattering – it will shape ( and misshape ) the formation of Government policy as the crisis continues to unfold .
If the key lesson here is merely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more care in how they communicate with an uneasy public , best it be learned this side of a total lockdown .

One of the most striking stories to come out of the unfolding COVID-19 crisis has been that of ‘panic buying’. Photos of supermarkets stripped bare and stories of key workers being unable to buy essentials has made for harrowing coverage.
The narrative of ‘selfish hoarders’ has not taken long to take hold in the press or on social media, where some have also suggested it vindicates the idea of we ‘Anglo-Saxons’ as more self-centred than our neighbours on the continent, where there are not similar reports.
But it isn’t as clear-cut as all that. Some very well-informed commentators have started to push back, very persuasively, against the idea that the UK is in the grip of mass panic-buying.
Their case, set out here by Greg Callus of the Financial Times, is both simple and plausible: that our incredibly efficient, just-in-time supply chain-driven supermarkets are struggling to adapt to an extraordinarily sudden shift in an entire nation’s shopping habits. A whole system built around predicting demand and minimising waste or excess storage was always going to need time to adapt to a major shift, even if there are no actual shortages.
For a small urban supermarket such as a Tesco Metro or Little Waitrose to end up with empty shelves, all that’s required is for the commuters who normally stop in there for a few bits on their way home to try and do a bigger shop. And as Stephen Bush points out in the New Statesman, these are just the sort of supermarket most likely to be frequented by journalists.
Their excitable coverage may very well have helped to fuel unease amongst the broader public and exacerbated what was initially quite a small problem. It will also have focused on instances of bad behaviour, magnifying such acts in the public imagination and building a potentially misleading impression of the shopping public.
In fact this reflects a broader problem, which long predates the coronavirus crisis, of media coverage over-emphasising the experiences of the cities (especially London) in which the media class live. Supermarket shortages are definitely not just confined to London – stories crop up in the Yorkshire Post, Birmingham Mail, Liverpool Echo, Express & Star, and Manchester Evening News – but there is still a danger of over-estimating the extent to which this represents the national picture – as Callus argues, urban supermarkets are those whose supply model is most vulnerable to even a small shift in demand if it is not foreseen.
Similarly, the headline figure that the British have spent an extra £1 billion on groceries over the past few weeks needs to be put into perspective. Spread over the number of people shopping and the overall value of the UK grocery sector, it really isn’t all that much – especially when you factor in the number of people needing to eat at home who would previously have picked up one or more of their meals at work or otherwise out.
And as for those stories about well-stocked shelves in European supermarkets, it can’t just be put down to greater civic-mindedness on the part of the citizenry – several continental countries have imposed much stronger formal restrictions on movement than Britain. As the Sun notes:
“…supermarkets in Italy, France, Spain and Germany have been limiting how many people can enter a store at one time. In parts of Italy, the country worst hit by the deadly virus, customers can visit a supermarket only every 48 hours and must stand three metres apart.”
None of this is to say that there isn’t a problem, even if actual hoarders are a much smaller part of it than press coverage might lead you to believe. Ministers must ensure that key workers, the elderly, and other at-risk groups are able to get what they need.
But notwithstanding the several measures both the Government and supermarkets have announced over the past week, including food packages for the most vulnerable and coordinated deliveries, we ought to expect the sector to adapt its supply chains to the new conditions in time. Ministers can always supplement this with stronger legal restrictions if needed.
A misleading portrait of the national mood is not just unflattering – it will shape (and misshape) the formation of Government policy as the crisis continues to unfold. If the key lesson here is merely that ministers and journalists need to take more care in how they communicate with an uneasy public, best it be learned this side of a total lockdown.


conservativehome--2020-03-24--Salmond’s acquittal makes a bloody SNP civil war much more likely

Another story has broken which deserves to compete with COVID-19 , at least for a couple of days .
Alex Salmond , the former First Minister of Scotland , was acquitted on all charges yesterday afternoon .
The ex-leader of the Scottish National Party was defending himself against 13 separate allegations , including sexual assault and attempted rape , levelled by nine women .
Obviously we were not inside the jury room and so can pass no comment on the result itself .
But it is an extraordinary outcome to one of the biggest stories in Scottish politics , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road to trial has already opened a deep rift between Nicola Sturgeon and her one-time mentor .
Salmond reportedly believes that the First Minister and her allies conspired in the allegations against him in order to get him off the political stage .
For their part his own troops , such as Nationalist MP Joanna Cherry , are already calling for an inquiry into how the Party handled the allegations against him .
After decades of phalanx-like discipline , the SNP ’ s internal cohesion was already showing signs of strain – Cherry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the pro-Sturgeon former SNP leader in the Commons , to fight Ruth Davidson ’ s constituency of Edinburgh Central at the next devolved elections .
Before today one might have expected the pro-leadership forces to comfortably have the upper hand – but the return of a vengeful and vindicated Salmond could upset the balance of power .
Vindicated in his own mind , at least .
It ’ s important to stress that whilst fighting the charges , the trial has projected claims about Salmond ’ s conduct with women which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxic figure amongst pro-UK voters , he will never again be able to rally the entire separatist movement the way he did in 2014 .
But it is increasingly unclear that anyone can .
The row between Sturgeon and Salmond is not just about personalities – it ’ s about strategy too .
The ex-First Minister is now an old man in a hurry , and has emerged as a champion of the ‘ fundamentalist ’ wing which wants the Nationalists to fight another referendum as soon as possible .
His successor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote after the Brexit referendum and with potentially more time on the clock , heads up those who want to wait until there is clear evidence that the independence vote is strong enough to win .
It looked as is the COVID-19 crisis had given her the perfect justification for telling her troops to stand down .
The British and Scottish governments are working together to meet the public health challenge of the moment , and in any event it is tricky to sell separation when the Treasury is staging Herculean fiscal interventions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the throes of self-inflicted austerity ) could never hope to match .
By exhibiting the usefulness of the British state and fostering a spirit of solidarity , the epidemic could actually create extremely unfavourable conditions for the separatists for years to come , if not longer .
In those circumstances the SNP would be wise to conserve their resources .
But Salmond ’ s likely return – he is already rumoured to be seeking re-election to the Scottish Parliament next year – will push this question back up the agenda whether his successor @ @ @ @ @

Another story has broken which deserves to compete with COVID-19, at least for a couple of days. Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland, was acquitted on all charges yesterday afternoon.
The ex-leader of the Scottish National Party was defending himself against 13 separate allegations, including sexual assault and attempted rape, levelled by nine women.
Obviously we were not inside the jury room and so can pass no comment on the result itself. But it is an extraordinary outcome to one of the biggest stories in Scottish politics, and the fallout could be substantial.
The road to trial has already opened a deep rift between Nicola Sturgeon and her one-time mentor. Salmond reportedly believes that the First Minister and her allies conspired in the allegations against him in order to get him off the political stage. For their part his own troops, such as Nationalist MP Joanna Cherry, are already calling for an inquiry into how the Party handled the allegations against him.
After decades of phalanx-like discipline, the SNP’s internal cohesion was already showing signs of strain – Cherry herself is currently standing against Angus Robertson, the pro-Sturgeon former SNP leader in the Commons, to fight Ruth Davidson’s constituency of Edinburgh Central at the next devolved elections. Before today one might have expected the pro-leadership forces to comfortably have the upper hand – but the return of a vengeful and vindicated Salmond could upset the balance of power.
Vindicated in his own mind, at least. It’s important to stress that whilst fighting the charges, the trial has projected claims about Salmond’s conduct with women which will not go away. Already an increasingly toxic figure amongst pro-UK voters, he will never again be able to rally the entire separatist movement the way he did in 2014.
But it is increasingly unclear that anyone can. The row between Sturgeon and Salmond is not just about personalities – it’s about strategy too. The ex-First Minister is now an old man in a hurry, and has emerged as a champion of the ‘fundamentalist’ wing which wants the Nationalists to fight another referendum as soon as possible. His successor, burned by her incautious push for a vote after the Brexit referendum and with potentially more time on the clock, heads up those who want to wait until there is clear evidence that the independence vote is strong enough to win.
It looked as is the COVID-19 crisis had given her the perfect justification for telling her troops to stand down. The British and Scottish governments are working together to meet the public health challenge of the moment, and in any event it is tricky to sell separation when the Treasury is staging Herculean fiscal interventions a newly-independent Scotland (whilst possibly in the throes of self-inflicted austerity) could never hope to match.
By exhibiting the usefulness of the British state and fostering a spirit of solidarity, the epidemic could actually create extremely unfavourable conditions for the separatists for years to come, if not longer. In those circumstances the SNP would be wise to conserve their resources.
But Salmond’s likely return – he is already rumoured to be seeking re-election to the Scottish Parliament next year – will push this question back up the agenda whether his successor likes it or not.


conservativehome--2020-03-24--Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct A

Calling Conservatives: New public appointments announced. Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority – and more

Eight years ago , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance reported that “ in the last year , five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories ” .
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party , compared to less than a third for the Conservatives .
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts , over time , the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments .
One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number as Labour supporters .
To help remedy this , each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies , so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented .
“ As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution , a wave of technological innovation is creating new industries , disrupting existing ones and transforming the way things are made and the way we live .
From AI-powered legal services to autonomous ships , new products , services and business models are emerging which don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its White Paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution , the Government committed to establishing a Regulatory Horizons Council ( RHC ) to identify the implications of technological innovation with high potential benefit for the UK economy and society and advise the government on regulatory reform needed to support its rapid and safe introduction.
” “ This is an opportunity to take on an intellectually demanding role at the heart of international financial services , leading a sizeable and complex organisation .
There is a requirement for strong leadership in a challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Under Andrew Bailey , the FCA has formulated a transformation programme , to equip the organisation for the next phase of its development : a data strategy and enhanced analytical skills to rapidly identify harm across an exceptionally broad range of firms of all sizes exploiting fast-moving changes in technology and distribution to target consumers ; enhance employee capabilities and processes to act swiftly on the harms identified ; [ and ] and with a regulatory framework which is appropriate following the completion of EU withdrawal , and which takes advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulation brought by technology and behavioural science.
” “ The Chief Executive will assume office at a time of unprecedented external change .
The political landscape in Europe and around the globe is altering with increasing pace and less predictability .
The British Council is also in constant transformation to deliver within funding constraints in a demanding , more client and customer-facing world .
The aims and goals of the British Council are more necessary than ever .
Delivering them in the complex world of 2020 is more difficult than at any time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chief Executive in terms of vision , agility , ability to simplify and lead with clarity and purpose are substantial .
The Chief Executive will be instrumental in redefining both ‘ soft power ’ and ‘ cultural relations ’ at this pivotal moment and will help define the place of the United Kingdom , for the better , in a ‘ disrupted ’ and uncertain geopolitical world.
” Remuneration : Up to £150k per annum plus bonus to 8 per cent and Civil Service Pension “ The Coast to Capital Strategic Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , setting a vision for and overseeing delivery of economic prosperity for all in the Coast to Capital area , including through Government funding of projects through the Local Growth Fund .
They are accountable to the LEP Board and for the proper governance of the LEP .
Coast to Capital is seeking an influential and persuasive senior business figure from the C2C area to help lead the region and meet the ambitious vision set out in its strategic plan .
Currently chaired by Tim Wates , who will be stepping down in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a diverse mix of regional business leaders alongside senior politicians and leaders from Universities and Further Education.
” “ The last few years have seen major changes to NHS Resolution ’ s role and standing in the system as a result of both its revised strategy and the new clinical negligence scheme for GPs .
It has been a pleasure and privilege to Chair the organisation through this period of significant change .
Although the course is set for the next few years some of these changes are still at an early stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now a need to progress the development of our infrastructure to support the enhanced role and the NHS will continue to evolve .
I am sure therefore that the next Chair will also find the role both challenging and rewarding.
” “ The Office of Tax Simplification ( OTS ) provides the government with independent advice on simplifying the tax system , to make things easier for taxpayers .
The OTS Board is led by an independent Chair ( Kathryn Cearns OBE ) and Tax Director ( Bill Dodwell ) and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to four independent members , supported by a diverse staff team drawn from the civil service and the private sector , led by the OTS Head of Office David Halsey .
The four independent members of the OTS Board are currently Dame Teresa Graham , John Cullinane , Kathleen Russ and – until his recent resignation – Paul Johnson .
To support its work and further development , the OTS would like to identify an exceptional individual with relevant experience to join its Board as one of its independent members.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headed by the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner ( the Commissioner ) who is a statutory appointment required under the Financial Services Act 2012 .
This is a senior position and , whilst the appointment is made by the regulators , it is an independent role , subject to approval by HM Treasury .
The current Commissioner carries out his duties through a company limited by guarantee ( Office of the Complaints Commissioner ) from premises based in the City of London .
He is assisted by three staff .
The Commissioner ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actions or inactions of the UK ’ s current financial services regulators , the Financial Conduct Authority , the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England ( but only in respect of its oversight of the banking clearing houses and payment schemes ) .
” Remuneration : “ Remuneration is on a level with judicial salaries , pro-rated as appropriate .
”

Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
– – – – – – – – – –
Regulatory Horizons Panel – Member
“As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a wave of technological innovation is creating new industries, disrupting existing ones and transforming the way things are made and the way we live. From AI-powered legal services to autonomous ships, new products, services and business models are emerging which don’t fit with existing regulatory systems. In its White Paper on Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Government committed to establishing a Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) to identify the implications of technological innovation with high potential benefit for the UK economy and society and advise the government on regulatory reform needed to support its rapid and safe introduction.”
Time: 1-2 days per month.
Remuneration: £380 per diem.
Closes: 23 March
– – – – – – – – – –
Financial Conduct Authority – Chief Executive
“This is an opportunity to take on an intellectually demanding role at the heart of international financial services, leading a sizeable and complex organisation. There is a requirement for strong leadership in a challenging environment to undertake a critically important role. Under Andrew Bailey, the FCA has formulated a transformation programme, to equip the organisation for the next phase of its development: a data strategy and enhanced analytical skills to rapidly identify harm across an exceptionally broad range of firms of all sizes exploiting fast-moving changes in technology and distribution to target consumers; enhance employee capabilities and processes to act swiftly on the harms identified; [and] and with a regulatory framework which is appropriate following the completion of EU withdrawal, and which takes advantage of the opportunities for better and more efficient regulation brought by technology and behavioural science.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: Competitive.
Closes: 27 March
– – – – – – – – – –
British Council – Chief Executive
“The Chief Executive will assume office at a time of unprecedented external change. The political landscape in Europe and around the globe is altering with increasing pace and less predictability. The British Council is also in constant transformation to deliver within funding constraints in a demanding, more client and customer-facing world. The aims and goals of the British Council are more necessary than ever. Delivering them in the complex world of 2020 is more difficult than at any time since 1945. The resulting demands on the Chief Executive in terms of vision, agility, ability to simplify and lead with clarity and purpose are substantial. The Chief Executive will be instrumental in redefining both ‘soft power’ and ‘cultural relations’ at this pivotal moment and will help define the place of the United Kingdom, for the better, in a ‘disrupted’ and uncertain geopolitical world.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: Up to £150k per annum plus bonus to 8 per cent and Civil Service Pension
Closes: 27 March
– – – – – – – – – –
Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (C2C LEP) – Chair
“The Coast to Capital Strategic Board comprises private sector and local authority Members, setting a vision for and overseeing delivery of economic prosperity for all in the Coast to Capital area, including through Government funding of projects through the Local Growth Fund. They are accountable to the LEP Board and for the proper governance of the LEP. Coast to Capital is seeking an influential and persuasive senior business figure from the C2C area to help lead the region and meet the ambitious vision set out in its strategic plan. Currently chaired by Tim Wates, who will be stepping down in July 2020, the Board brings together a diverse mix of regional business leaders alongside senior politicians and leaders from Universities and Further Education.”
Time: Four days per month, three-year term.
Remuneration: £20,000 per annum.
Closes: 30 March
– – – – – – – – – –
NHS Resolution – Chair
“The last few years have seen major changes to NHS Resolution’s role and standing in the system as a result of both its revised strategy and the new clinical negligence scheme for GPs. It has been a pleasure and privilege to Chair the organisation through this period of significant change. Although the course is set for the next few years some of these changes are still at an early stage and need to be embedded, there is now a need to progress the development of our infrastructure to support the enhanced role and the NHS will continue to evolve. I am sure therefore that the next Chair will also find the role both challenging and rewarding.”
Time: 2-3 days per week.
Remuneration: £63,000 per annum.
Closes: 06 April
– – – – – – – – – –
Office of Tax Simplification – Board Member
“The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) provides the government with independent advice on simplifying the tax system, to make things easier for taxpayers. The OTS Board is led by an independent Chair (Kathryn Cearns OBE) and Tax Director (Bill Dodwell) and has representatives from HM Treasury and HMRC and up to four independent members, supported by a diverse staff team drawn from the civil service and the private sector, led by the OTS Head of Office David Halsey. The four independent members of the OTS Board are currently Dame Teresa Graham, John Cullinane, Kathleen Russ and – until his recent resignation – Paul Johnson. To support its work and further development, the OTS would like to identify an exceptional individual with relevant experience to join its Board as one of its independent members.”
Time: Approx. 10 days per annum.
Remuneration: “Reasonable expenses”.
Closes: 06 April
– – – – – – – – – –
HM Treasury – Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner
“The Office of the Complaints Commissioner is headed by the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner (the Commissioner) who is a statutory appointment required under the Financial Services Act 2012. This is a senior position and, whilst the appointment is made by the regulators, it is an independent role, subject to approval by HM Treasury. The current Commissioner carries out his duties through a company limited by guarantee (Office of the Complaints Commissioner) from premises based in the City of London. He is assisted by three staff. The Commissioner’s role is to review independently complaints about the actions or inactions of the UK’s current financial services regulators, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Bank of England (but only in respect of its oversight of the banking clearing houses and payment schemes).”
Time: Est. three days per week.
Remuneration: “Remuneration is on a level with judicial salaries, pro-rated as appropriate.”
Closes: 13 April


conservativehome--2020-03-24--Britain moves nearer to a full quarantine. Now watch for the moves to isolate Johnson.

In the wake of a near-lockdown of the entire country , we await a new batch of opinion polls with special interest .
Recent ones have been good for the Government .
On the Coronavirus , more believe that the Conservatives have handled it well than badly – more than half of those who expressed a view , in some cases .
On voting intention , more plumped for the Conservatives than for their rivals – again , over half , in some surveys .
This complements a picture , presented by Henry Hill on this site yesterday , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest .
The evidence available suggests a stoicism-to-panic ratio slanting strongly to the former .
Nonetheless , one can be both resolute but anxious , and public concern has doubtless been rising at a similiar rate to those virus graphs – at least if phone-ins , social media content and thread comments are anything to go by .
And that was before the announcement this evening of measures unprecedented even in wartime ; at once both draconian and strangely vague .
The Government ’ s critics fall into two broad camps .
First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the activists .
Some want a mass testing and follow-up programme like South Korea ’ s .
Others want a total shutdown of the country , complete with curfews , for as long as it takes ( for however long that might be ) .
They hate any approach that has achieving herd immunity built into it , whatever the semantics may be of this being a Government aim or not .
Second , there are the passivists .
At one end , some want the most vulnerable shielded , and the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual .
At the other , some take a fatalistic view of events , and think that it isn ’ t worth sacrificing the future of the young and healthy for the elderly and sick .
A few even appear to see the virus as a just punishment as what they see as the snowflakery , decadence and socialism of modern Britain .
“ Because thou art lukewarm , and neither cold nor hot , I will spue thee out of my mouth , ” the author of the Book of Revelation wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been the message of some in both groups to Boris Johnson , as they have watched what has looked like a policy shift from containment to suppression – and now a near-shutdown the length and breadth of Britain .
Is it fair ?
It is worth remembering at the start , while pondering the question , that the Prime Minister is not Winston Churchill – at least when it comes to poll ratings .
There was thumping support for the latter in wartime surveys , including an 82 per cent finding in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of the Second World War .
Whatever one makes of the methodological accuracy of those polls , Johnson begins with nothing like the same level of support .
Though he was a near-landslide winner in December , roughly a third of those who voted backed an openly Marxist party .
A slice of those voters , together with some Liberal Democrats and others , hate his double victory first last year , and back in 2016 in the EU referendum .
An influential section of them are based in London , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are strikingly well-networked , in the media , politics , law and academia .
They are obsessed by his personal frailties and fixated upon the role of Dominic Cummings .
Before the take-off of Coronavirus , they warned that Johnson was seeking to govern as a dictator .
Once the virus got going , they were clamouring for him to exercise the very powers against which they had warned , and damning his liberal instincts – which were apparent to most of us long ago , but which they have only now deigned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say for a moment that the Government ’ s response has been perfect – far from it .
There are two legitimate lines of criticism .
The first is presentational .
There has been conflicting information , such as on whether travellers returning from Italy should isolate or not , and confusing about-turns , sometimes a result of briefings to selected journalists : over a London lockdown last week ; plans for over-70s ; herd immunity , and much else .
The second is practical .
The point about herd immunity leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions part of a seamlessly-timed Government plan to minimise pressure on the NHS ?
Or have Ministers been stampeded , rightly or wrongly , into a change of strategy , in the wake of that famous Imperial College paper ?
One aspect of the answer is evident : it is clear that SAGE , the presiding expert committee , has been divided .
Any reflective person should feel for Johnson and his team .
For as John Redwood wrote on this site recently : “ knowledge is still imperfect about how long it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how it is transmitted , why it is sometimes very dangerous but normally not for a younger healthy person , whether it can be caught twice by the same person , and whether someone does build immunity to it by having it ” .
The Prime Minister is like man firing at a moving target blindfold with a gun that may not work .
We believe he is presenting well , and not panicking , amidst daunting circumstances .
Where the Government looks culpable is not in having failed to prepare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the public would have opposed a switch in resources from then to later ) but , say , last month .
Why wasn ’ t the push for more ventilators and equipment made then ?
Johnson was returned with a near-landslide less than four months ago .
But the political landscape is unrecognisable : no more “ Red Wall ” chatter , no more Today programme boycott , no more talk of levelling-up – in the face of that ultimate leveller-down : death .
Perhaps the Goverment ’ s broad plan has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are experiencing that “ second wave ” which some of its most prominent advisers fear .
But it will be a very long time , given the evasiveness of reliable statistics , until the truth is clear one way or the other .
In the meantime , as we have written before , even success – which is to say deaths in low five figures rather than even low six figures – won ’ t feel like success .
A & E departments are set on present trends to follow much the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministers are surprised by the skittishness of Conservative MPs ; by how so many are beating frantically on Downing Street ’ s door demanding more action , resources , money .
They shouldn ’ t be .
This is a generation of Parliamentarians raised and trained as constituency campaigners .
Modern politics is a volatile business : Tory MPs who won marginals today know all too well that they are vulnerable tomorrow .
The combination of this new shutdown , already shot through with ambiguities ( how are the police meant to monitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ? )
; the imminent arrival of a new Labour leader , whose skill set is strong on lawyerly inquisition ; the jitteriness of Conservative MPs and the prospect of the NHS being unable to cope are baleful for Johnson .
In the ideal world that doesn ’ t exist , low politics would not intrude on high drama , with life and death at stake for many thousands and perhaps more .
But in the real one that we live in , the Chairman of the Health Select Committee , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy implementation committees , were leadership election rivals last year .
There is a gaggle of former Cabinet Ministers who have lost their jobs .
There are wartime precedents for national governments and deposed Prime Ministers .
A cloud of unknowables haunts the man whose star blazed so brightly last December .

In the wake of a near-lockdown of the entire country, we await a new batch of opinion polls with special interest. Recent ones have been good for the Government. On the Coronavirus, more believe that the Conservatives have handled it well than badly – more than half of those who expressed a view, in some cases. On voting intention, more plumped for the Conservatives than for their rivals – again, over half, in some surveys.
This complements a picture, presented by Henry Hill on this site yesterday, of less panic buying than some reports would suggest. The evidence available suggests a stoicism-to-panic ratio slanting strongly to the former.
Nonetheless, one can be both resolute but anxious, and public concern has doubtless been rising at a similiar rate to those virus graphs – at least if phone-ins, social media content and thread comments are anything to go by. And that was before the announcement yesterday evening of measures unprecedented even in wartime; at once both draconian and strangely vague. The Government’s critics fall into two broad camps.
First, there are what are best called the activists. Some want a mass testing and follow-up programme like South Korea’s. Others want a total shutdown of the country, complete with curfews, for as long as it takes (for however long that might be). They hate any approach that has achieving herd immunity built into it, whatever the semantics may be of this being a Government aim or not.
Second, there are the passivists. At one end, some want the most vulnerable shielded, and the rest to go about their daily business as usual. At the other, some take a fatalistic view of events, and think that it isn’t worth sacrificing the future of the young and healthy for the elderly and sick. A few even appear to see the virus as a just punishment as what they see as the snowflakery, decadence and socialism of modern Britain.
“Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth,” the author of the Book of Revelation wrote to the Church in Laodicea. Such has been the message of some in both groups to Boris Johnson, as they have watched what has looked like a policy shift from containment to suppression – and now a near-shutdown the length and breadth of Britain. Is it fair?
It is worth remembering at the start, while pondering the question, that the Prime Minister is not Winston Churchill – at least when it comes to poll ratings. There was thumping support for the latter in wartime surveys, including an 82 per cent finding in March 1942, one of the worst months of the Second World War. Whatever one makes of the methodological accuracy of those polls, Johnson begins with nothing like the same level of support.
Though he was a near-landslide winner in December, roughly a third of those who voted backed an openly Marxist party. A slice of those voters, together with some Liberal Democrats and others, hate his double victory first last year, and back in 2016 in the EU referendum. An influential section of them are based in London, the country’s dominant city, and are strikingly well-networked, in the media, politics, law and academia.
They are obsessed by his personal frailties and fixated upon the role of Dominic Cummings. Before the take-off of Coronavirus, they warned that Johnson was seeking to govern as a dictator. Once the virus got going, they were clamouring for him to exercise the very powers against which they had warned, and damning his liberal instincts – which were apparent to most of us long ago, but which they have only now deigned to notice.
None of this is to say for a moment that the Government’s response has been perfect – far from it. There are two legitimate lines of criticism. The first is presentational. There has been conflicting information, such as on whether travellers returning from Italy should isolate or not, and confusing about-turns, sometimes a result of briefings to selected journalists: over a London lockdown last week; plans for over-70s; herd immunity, and much else.
The second is practical. The point about herd immunity leads straight to it. Are the accelerating restrictions part of a seamlessly-timed Government plan to minimise pressure on the NHS? Or have Ministers been stampeded, rightly or wrongly, into a change of strategy, in the wake of that famous Imperial College paper? One aspect of the answer is evident: it is clear that SAGE, the presiding expert committee, has been divided.
Any reflective person should feel for Johnson and his team. For as John Redwood wrote on this site recently: “knowledge is still imperfect about how long it can be in someone before symptoms show, how it is transmitted, why it is sometimes very dangerous but normally not for a younger healthy person, whether it can be caught twice by the same person, and whether someone does build immunity to it by having it”.
The Prime Minister is like man firing at a moving target blindfold with a gun that may not work. We believe he is presenting well, and not panicking, amidst daunting circumstances. Where the Government looks culpable is not in having failed to prepare, for example, last year (politicians and the public would have opposed a switch in resources from then to later) but, say, last month. Why wasn’t the push for more ventilators and equipment made then?
Johnson was returned with a near-landslide less than four months ago. But the political landscape is unrecognisable: no more “Red Wall” chatter, no more Today programme boycott, no more talk of levelling-up – in the face of that ultimate leveller-down: death. Perhaps the Goverment’s broad plan has been right. Hong Kong and Taiwan are experiencing that “second wave” which some of its most prominent advisers fear.
But it will be a very long time, given the evasiveness of reliable statistics, until the truth is clear one way or the other. In the meantime, as we have written before, even success – which is to say deaths in low five figures rather than even low six figures – won’t feel like success. A & E departments are set on present trends to follow much the same trajectory as Italy’s.
Some Ministers are surprised by the skittishness of Conservative MPs; by how so many are beating frantically on Downing Street’s door demanding more action, resources, money. They shouldn’t be. This is a generation of Parliamentarians raised and trained as constituency campaigners. Modern politics is a volatile business: Tory MPs who won marginals today know all too well that they are vulnerable tomorrow.
The combination of this new shutdown, already shot through with ambiguities (how are the police meant to monitor “one form of exercise a day”?); the imminent arrival of a new Labour leader, whose skill set is strong on lawyerly inquisition; the jitteriness of Conservative MPs and the prospect of the NHS being unable to cope are baleful for Johnson.
In the ideal world that doesn’t exist, low politics would not intrude on high drama, with life and death at stake for many thousands and perhaps more.
But in the real one that we live in, the Chairman of the Health Select Committee, and two of the four chairmen of the policy implementation committees, were leadership election rivals last year. There is a gaggle of former Cabinet Ministers who have lost their jobs. There are wartime precedents for national governments and deposed Prime Ministers. A cloud of unknowables haunts the man whose star blazed so brightly last December.


Coronavirus Count

Total number of cases in the UK : 6,650 ( Up from 5,683 at the last count on this site ) .
Daily confirmed cases : 967 ( The last figure published was 665 ) .
From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK .
Total UK cases COVID-19 Cases Update .
The above are figures for England .
“ The risk to the UK has been raised to high ” – From the Government ’ s website Number of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) cases and risk in the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AND AWAY FROM OTHERS NEW See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GUIDANCE : FURTHER BUSINESSES AND PREMISES TO CLOSE NEW See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
HOW EVERYONE CAN HELP STOP THE CORONAVIRUS ( SOCIAL DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
STAY AT HOME IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE CORONAVIRUS ( SELF-DISTANCING ) See here .
Republished on Monday March 23 .
See here .
Published on Monday March 23 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR WORKERS ON WHAT AND HOW THEY CAN CLAIM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE CORONAVIRUS BILL WILL DO See here .
Published on Wednesday March 18 HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS • Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve ( not your hands ) when you cough or sneeze .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell .
The symptoms of coronavirus are : However , these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness .
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common , such as cold and flu .
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do .
Use this service if : • You think you might have coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers .
• You ’ ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus .
• In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours .
• In Wales call 111 ( if available in your area ) or 0845 46 47 .
• Do not go to a GP surgery , pharmacy or hospital .
• What the coronavirus is , how it ’ s spread and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NHS website overview .
• Stay at home advice and how to manage self-isolation .
All information taken from Government sources .
Update as of 23.30 on Monday 23rd March .

HEADLINE FACTS
Total number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 292,950 (Up from 291,409).
Total number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 41,481 (Up from 41,279).
Daily number of lab-confirmed UK cases: 1,541 (Up from 1,266).
Daily number of COVID-19 associated UK deaths: 202 (Up from 151).
England total cases: 156,410 (Up from 156,018 ).
England total deaths: 37,069 (Up from 36,883).
England death rate: 279.4 (Was 278.7).
Scotland total cases: 15,709 (Up from 15,682).
Scotland total deaths: 2,439 (Up from 2,434).
Scotland death rate: 288.9 (Was 288.4).
Wales total cases: 14,658 (Up from 14,581).
Wales total deaths: 1,435 (Up from 1,425).
Wales death rate: 467.0 (Was 464.6)
Northern Ireland total cases: 4,838 (Up from 4,822)
Northern Ireland total deaths: 538 (Up from 537).
Northern Ireland death rate: 257.1 (Was 256.3).
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
DAILY NUMBER OF COVID-19 ASSOCIATED DEATHS BY DATE REPORTED
DAILY NUMBER OF LAB-CONFIRMED ENGLAND CASES
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
RISK
“The risk to the UK has been raised to high” –
From the Government’s website Number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and risk in the UK.
– – –
NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDER FORM
See here
(The Government’s scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers.)
– – –
OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: THE UK GOVERNMENT’S COVID-19 RECOVERY STRATEGY
See here. New as of Monday May 11.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON THE LOCKDOWN.
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SHIELDING AND PROTECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE FROM COVID-19
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING
See here. New as of Tuesday June 2.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: GENERAL ADVICE
See here.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. WHAT YOU CAN DO AND CAN’T DO
See here.
GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE FOR LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEW
See here. Published on Saturday March 28.
– – –
HOW TO AVOID CATCHING OR SPREADING CORONAVIRUS
Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds .
Always wash your hands when you get home or into work .
Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available .
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze .
Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards .
Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
A cough.
A high temperature.
Shortness of breath.
However, these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
USING 111
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Use this service if:
You think you might have coronavirus.
In the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see the coronavirus advice for travellers.
You’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.
In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.
In Wales call 111 (if available in your area) or 0845 46 47.
In Northern Ireland call 111.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
FURTHER LINKS TO GOVERNMENT ADVICE
– – –
(All information taken from Government sources.
Updated as of 19.00 on Friday June 12.)


conservativehome--2020-03-24--WATCH: The Prime Minister’s broadcast. “I must give a very simple instruction. You must stay at home

WATCH: The Prime Minister’s broadcast. “I must give a very simple instruction. You must stay at home.”

WATCH : The Prime Minister ’ s broadcast .
“ I must give a very simple instruction .
You must @ @ @ @ @

PM @BorisJohnson gives an important update on #coronavirus #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/MQo2EVVDcD
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 23, 2020


conservativehome--2020-03-24--“People will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes.” Johnson’s

“People will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes.” Johnson’s statement: full text.

The coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades – and this country is not alone .
All over the world we are seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer .
And so tonight I want to update you on the latest steps we are taking to fight the disease and what you can do to help .
And I want to begin by reminding you why the UK has been taking the approach that we have .
Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus , there will come a moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could possibly cope ; because there won ’ t be enough ventilators , enough intensive care beds , enough doctors and nurses .
And as we have seen elsewhere , in other countries that also have fantastic health care systems , that is the moment of real danger .
To put it simply , if too many people become seriously unwell at one time , the NHS will be unable to handle it – meaning more people are likely to die , not just from Coronavirus but from other illnesses as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the disease .
Because that is the way we reduce the number of people needing hospital treatment at any one time , so we can protect the NHS ’ s ability to cope – and save more lives .
And that ’ s why we have been asking people to stay at home during this pandemic .
And though huge numbers are complying – and I thank you all – the time has now come for us all to do more .
From this evening I must give the British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must stay at home .
Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households .
That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes : • Shopping for basic necessities , as infrequently as possible .
• One form of exercise a day – for example a run , walk , or cycle – alone or with members of your household .
• Any medical need , to provide care or to help a vulnerable person ; and • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only where this is absolutely necessary and can not be done from home .
That ’ s all – these are the only reasons you should leave your home .
You should not be meeting friends .
If your friends ask you to meet , you should say No .
You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home .
You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can .
And use food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them , including through fines and dispersing gatherings .
To ensure compliance with the Government ’ s instruction to stay at home , we will immediately : • Close all shops selling non-essential goods , including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries , playgrounds and outdoor gyms , and places of worship ; • We will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with ; • And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including weddings , baptisms and other ceremonies , but excluding funerals .
Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed .
No Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this .
I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people ’ s lives , to their businesses and to their jobs .
And that ’ s why we have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business .
And I can assure you that we will keep these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look again in three weeks , and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to .
But at present there are just no easy options .
The way ahead is hard , and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost .
And yet it is also true that there is a clear way through .
Day by day we are strengthening our amazing NHS with 7500 former clinicians now coming back to the service .
With the time you buy – by simply staying at home – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We are accelerating our search for treatments .
We are pioneering work on a vaccine .
And we are buying millions of testing kits that will enable us to turn the tide on this invisible killer .
I want to thank everyone who is working flat out to beat the virus .
Everyone from the supermarket staff to the transport workers to the carers to the nurses and doctors on the frontline .
But in this fight we can be in no doubt that each and every one of us is directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us is now obliged to join together .
To halt the spread of this disease .
To protect our NHS and to save many many thousands of lives .
And I know that as they have in the past so many times .
The people of this country will rise to that challenge .
And we will come through it stronger than ever .
We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together .
And therefore I urge you at this moment of national emergency to stay at home , protect @ @ @ @ @ @

“Good Evening,
The coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced for decades – and this country is not alone.
All over the world we are seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer.
And so tonight I want to update you on the latest steps we are taking to fight the disease and what you can do to help.
And I want to begin by reminding you why the UK has been taking the approach that we have.
Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses.
And as we have seen elsewhere, in other countries that also have fantastic health care systems, that is the moment of real danger.
To put it simply, if too many people become seriously unwell at one time, the NHS will be unable to handle it – meaning more people are likely to die, not just from Coronavirus but from other illnesses as well.
So it’s vital to slow the spread of the disease.
Because that is the way we reduce the number of people needing hospital treatment at any one time, so we can protect the NHS’s ability to cope – and save more lives.
And that’s why we have been asking people to stay at home during this pandemic.
And though huge numbers are complying – and I thank you all – the time has now come for us all to do more.
From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home.
Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.
That is why people will only be allowed to leave their home for the following very limited purposes:
Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible.
One form of exercise a day – for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household.
Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and
Travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.
That’s all – these are the only reasons you should leave your home.
You should not be meeting friends. If your friends ask you to meet, you should say No.
You should not be meeting family members who do not live in your home.
You should not be going shopping except for essentials like food and medicine – and you should do this as little as you can. And use food delivery services where you can.
If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
To ensure compliance with the Government’s instruction to stay at home, we will immediately:
Close all shops selling non-essential goods, including clothing and electronic stores and other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship;
We will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public – excluding people you live with;
And we’ll stop all social events , including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies, but excluding funerals.
Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed. No Prime Minister wants to enact measures like this.
I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people’s lives, to their businesses and to their jobs.
And that’s why we have produced a huge and unprecedented programme of support both for workers and for business.
And I can assure you that we will keep these restrictions under constant review. We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to.
But at present there are just no easy options. The way ahead is hard, and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost.
And yet it is also true that there is a clear way through.
Day by day we are strengthening our amazing NHS with 7500 former clinicians now coming back to the service.
With the time you buy – by simply staying at home – we are increasing our stocks of equipment.
We are accelerating our search for treatments.
We are pioneering work on a vaccine.
And we are buying millions of testing kits that will enable us to turn the tide on this invisible killer.
I want to thank everyone who is working flat out to beat the virus.
Everyone from the supermarket staff to the transport workers to the carers to the nurses and doctors on the frontline.
But in this fight we can be in no doubt that each and every one of us is directly enlisted.
Each and every one of us is now obliged to join together.
To halt the spread of this disease.
To protect our NHS and to save many many thousands of lives.
And I know that as they have in the past so many times.
The people of this country will rise to that challenge.
And we will come through it stronger than ever.
We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together.
And therefore I urge you at this moment of national emergency to stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives.
Thank you.”


conservativehome--2020-03-24--The Government’s “new rules on staying at home and away from others”

NEW RULES ON STAYING AT HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS The single most important action we can all take , in fighting coronavirus , is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people , we will reduce the spread of the infection .
That is why the government is now ( 23 March 2020 ) introducing three new measures • Requiring people to stay at home , except for very limited purposes .
• Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public .
Every citizen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The relevant authorities , including the police , will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings .
These measures are effective immediately .
The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks , and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible You should only leave the house for one of four reasons .
• Shopping for basic necessities , for example food and medicine , which must be as infrequent as possible .
• One form of exercise a day , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle -alone or with members of your household .
• Any medical need , or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person .
• Travelling to and from work , but only where this absolutely can not be done from home .
These four reasons are exceptions -even when doing these activities , you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are two metres apart from anyone outside of your household .
These measures must be followed by everyone .
Separate advice is available for individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the most vulnerable who need to be shielded .
If you work in a critical sector outlined in this guidance , or your child has been identified as vulnerable , you can continue to take your children to school .
Last week , the Government ordered certain businesses -including pubs , cinemas and theatres -to close.The Government is now extending this requirement to a further set of businesses and other venues , including : • All non-essential retail stores-this will include clothing and electronics stores ; hair , beauty and nail salons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excluding food markets .
• Indoor and outdoor leisure facilitiessuch as bowling alleys , arcades and soft play facilities .
• Communal places within parks , such as playgrounds , sports courts and outdoor gyms .
• Places of worship , except for funerals attended by immediate families .
• Hotels , hostels , bed and breakfasts , campsites , caravan parks , and boarding housesfor commercial/leisure use ( excluding permanent residents and key workers ) .
To make sure people are staying at home and apart from each other , the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than two people.There are only two exceptions to this rule : • Where the gathering is of a group of people who live together -this means that a parent can , for example , take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home .
• Where the gathering is essential for work purposes – but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace .
In addition , the Government is stopping social events , including weddings , baptisms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funerals , which can be attended by immediate family .
These measures will reduce our day to day contact with other people .
They are a vital part of our efforts to reduce the rate of transmission of coronavirus .
Every citizen is instructed to comply with these new measures .
The Government will therefore be ensuring the police and other relevant authorities have the powers to enforce them , including through fines and dispersing gatherings where people do not comply .
They will initially last for the three weeks from 23 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at them again and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible .

NEW RULES ON STAYING AT HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS
The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection.
That is why the government is now (23 March 2020) introducing three new measures
Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes.
Closing non-essential shops and community spaces.
Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public.
Every citizen must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
These measures are effective immediately. The Government will look again at these measures in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible
1. STAYING AT HOME
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons.
Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
One form of exercise a day,for example a run, walk, or cycle -alone or with members of your household.
Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
These four reasons are exceptions -even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are two metres apart from anyone outside of your household. These measures must be followed by everyone.
Separate advice is available for individuals or households who are isolating, and for the most vulnerable who need to be shielded. If you work in a critical sector outlined in this guidance, or your child has been identified as vulnerable, you can continue to take your children to school.
2. CLOSING NON-ESSENTIAL SHOPS AND PUBLIC SPACES
Last week, the Government ordered certain businesses -including pubs, cinemas and theatres -to close.The Government is now extending this requirement to a further set of businesses and other venues, including:
All non-essential retail stores-this will include clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets, excluding food markets.
Libraries, community centres, and youth centres.
Indoor and outdoor leisure facilitiessuch as bowling alleys, arcades and soft play facilities.
Communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms.
Places of worship, except for funerals attended by immediate families.
Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding housesfor commercial/leisure use (excluding permanent residents and key workers).
3. STOPPING PUBLIC GATHERINGS
To make sure people are staying at home and apart from each other, the Government is also stopping all public gatherings of more than two people.There are only two exceptions to this rule:
Where the gathering is of a group of people who live together -this means that a parent can, for example, take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home.
Where the gathering is essential for work purposes – but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace. In addition, the Government is stopping social events, including weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies. This will exclude funerals, which can be attended by immediate family.
DELIVERING THESE NEW MEASURES
These measures will reduce our day to day contact with other people. They are a vital part of our efforts to reduce the rate of transmission of coronavirus. Every citizen is instructed to comply with these new measures.
The Government will therefore be ensuring the police and other relevant authorities have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings where people do not comply. They will initially last for the three weeks from 23 March, at which point the Government will look at them again and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.


conservativehome--2020-03-24--Victoria Hewson: Has the Government shelved the Gender Recognition Act Reform?

Victoria Hewson is a solicitor and co-founder of Radical , a campaign for truth and freedom in the gender recognition debate .
She and Rebecca Lowe , her co-founder , alternate authorship of this column on trans , sex and gender issues .
Last week , The i Paper reported that the Government has “ indefinitely delayed ” the reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 ( GRA ) – a process initiated in July 2018 in the May era .
At present , the GRA enables people in England and Wales to change their gender for ( almost ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have two medical reports showing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria , they can prove they have lived in their “ acquired ” gender for two years , and they provide a statutory declaration that they intend to remain in their new gender for the rest of their life .
After providing evidence of these things to a Gender Recognition Panel , a trans person can obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate ( GRC ) , which means they must be treated in law as if they were a member of the opposite sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new birth certificate and National Insurance Number under their new gender .
The Reform of the Gender Recognition Act Government Consultation was launched in 2018 by Penny Mordaunt , then the Minister of State for Women and Equalities .
As set out in the consultation document , the aim of the consultation was to seek views on “ how best Government might make the existing process under the Gender Recognition Act a better service for those trans and non-binary people who wish to use it ” .
It was noted that “ many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] process is overly intrusive , humiliating and administratively burdensome .
They argue that by requiring a diagnostic psychiatric report , the process perpetuates the outdated and false assumption that being trans is a mental illness ” .
And it was stated that , because the current system “ is denying too many people access to the legal recognition that they want ” , it had become necessary “ to make it easier for trans people to achieve legal recognition ” .
The consultation was , therefore , designed to find “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It sought views on whether the requirement for diagnosis of dysphoria should be dropped , and whether people should continue to be required to provide evidence of living in their acquired gender .
Other questions included whether the £140 fee for obtaining a GRC , and the requirement to provide a statutory declaration of intention to live in the new legally recognised gender until death , should be retained .
Now , if the GRA were to be reformed in these particular ways , it would mean that a certificate would be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needing to provide medical confirmation from a doctor , or evidence of having lived in their “ acquired gender ” for two years .
This is already the case in a number of countries , cited as examples in the consultation document , and is informally known as ‘ self-identification ’ or ‘ self-ID ’ .
Although the consultation closed in October 2018 , and the Government Equalities Office – which was responsible for the consultation – has stated that it received more than 100,000 responses , no responses have been published .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ politically charged in recent months , with candidates in the Labour leadership contest becoming embroiled in divisive debates on the matter of transgender rights , while high-profile legal cases concerning the treatment of children and women have been working their way through the courts .
The Scottish government has gone further , having issued for consultation a draft Gender Recognition Reform ( Scotland ) Bill , which would introduce self-ID for people in Scotland .
This has caused a furious backlash from women ’ s groups in Scotland , as well as division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as Joanna Cherry , are strongly resistant to self-ID .
However , it has now been reported that the Scottish government is putting its reform on hold too , in order to concentrate on measures to deal with Covid-19 .
In the news article referred to above , The i Paper suggested that the UK Government had already become wary of initiating a similarly divisive process in Westminster , even before the topic of Covid-19 rightly took over the Government ’ s agenda .
At Radical , we would welcome the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both governments ’ claims about the defects in the current process seem overstated , given evidence from the Gender Recognition Panels themselves ( as opposed to survey data and claims by activists that the UK Government relied upon ) .
Enabling men to change their gender for legal purposes ( including purposes relating to laws against discrimination in the provision of services ) would undoubtedly undermine women ’ s privacy and safety , as it would become legally risky to challenge a male-bodied person in a women ’ s space .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unisex facilities , such as changing rooms in shops – in the place of single-sex alternatives – which is causing confusion , and arguably defeats the argument of trans activists that it is unsafe for trans women to use the same changing rooms and toilets as men .
Moreover , all of this feeds into a bigger concern about the conflation of the concepts of ‘ sex ’ and ‘ gender ’ , and a dangerous shift towards the denial of biological truth .
However , it is important to note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westminster Government ’ s consultation document – issues that , generally , are simply referred to , rather than focused upon materially – that should indeed receive further consideration .
Some of these issues could usefully be pursued by the Government Equalities Office .
It is certainly the case that the operation of the Equality Act , in respect of trans people with a GRC , should be clarified , and as a matter of urgency .
Furthermore , when more normal times have returned , the Government should be investigating why the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Identity Development Services went from 96 in the period 2009-10 , to 2,016 in 2016-17 – and why demand for adult services at the UK ’ s leading gender identity clinic has seen annual increases of 20-40 per cent in recent years

Victoria Hewson is a solicitor and co-founder of Radical, a campaign for truth and freedom in the gender recognition debate. She and Rebecca Lowe, her co-founder, alternate authorship of this column on trans, sex and gender issues.
Last week, The i Paper reported that the Government has “indefinitely delayed” the reform of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) – a process initiated in July 2018 in the May era.
At present, the GRA enables people in England and Wales to change their gender for (almost) all legal purposes, as long as they have two medical reports showing a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, they can prove they have lived in their “acquired” gender for two years, and they provide a statutory declaration that they intend to remain in their new gender for the rest of their life.
After providing evidence of these things to a Gender Recognition Panel, a trans person can obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), which means they must be treated in law as if they were a member of the opposite sex, and they are entitled to a new birth certificate and National Insurance Number under their new gender.
The Reform of the Gender Recognition Act Government Consultation was launched in 2018 by Penny Mordaunt, then the Minister of State for Women and Equalities.
As set out in the consultation document, the aim of the consultation was to seek views on “how best Government might make the existing process under the Gender Recognition Act a better service for those trans and non-binary people who wish to use it”.
It was noted that “many trans people feel that [the current] process is overly intrusive, humiliating and administratively burdensome. They argue that by requiring a diagnostic psychiatric report, the process perpetuates the outdated and false assumption that being trans is a mental illness”.
And it was stated that, because the current system “is denying too many people access to the legal recognition that they want”, it had become necessary “to make it easier for trans people to achieve legal recognition”.
The consultation was, therefore, designed to find “the best way to achieve this”.
It sought views on whether the requirement for diagnosis of dysphoria should be dropped, and whether people should continue to be required to provide evidence of living in their acquired gender.
Other questions included whether the £140 fee for obtaining a GRC, and the requirement to provide a statutory declaration of intention to live in the new legally recognised gender until death, should be retained.
Now, if the GRA were to be reformed in these particular ways, it would mean that a certificate would be available to anyone requesting it — without them needing to provide medical confirmation from a doctor, or evidence of having lived in their “acquired gender” for two years.
This is already the case in a number of countries, cited as examples in the consultation document, and is informally known as ‘self-identification’ or ‘self-ID’.
Although the consultation closed in October 2018, and the Government Equalities Office – which was responsible for the consultation – has stated that it received more than 100,000 responses, no responses have been published.
Meanwhile, the issue has become increasingly politically charged in recent months, with candidates in the Labour leadership contest becoming embroiled in divisive debates on the matter of transgender rights, while high-profile legal cases concerning the treatment of children and women have been working their way through the courts.
The Scottish government has gone further, having issued for consultation a draft Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which would introduce self-ID for people in Scotland.
This has caused a furious backlash from women’s groups in Scotland, as well as division within the SNP, as prominent members, such as Joanna Cherry, are strongly resistant to self-ID.
However, it has now been reported that the Scottish government is putting its reform on hold too, in order to concentrate on measures to deal with Covid-19.
In the news article referred to above, The i Paper suggested that the UK Government had already become wary of initiating a similarly divisive process in Westminster, even before the topic of Covid-19 rightly took over the Government’s agenda.
At Radical, we would welcome the scrapping of the proposed GRA reforms.
Both governments’ claims about the defects in the current process seem overstated, given evidence from the Gender Recognition Panels themselves (as opposed to survey data and claims by activists that the UK Government relied upon).
Enabling men to change their gender for legal purposes (including purposes relating to laws against discrimination in the provision of services) would undoubtedly undermine women’s privacy and safety, as it would become legally risky to challenge a male-bodied person in a women’s space.
We have already seen a move towards the provision of unisex facilities, such as changing rooms in shops – in the place of single-sex alternatives – which is causing confusion, and arguably defeats the argument of trans activists that it is unsafe for trans women to use the same changing rooms and toilets as men.
Moreover, all of this feeds into a bigger concern about the conflation of the concepts of ‘sex’ and ‘gender’, and a dangerous shift towards the denial of biological truth.
However, it is important to note that there are certain issues arising from the Westminster Government’s consultation document – issues that, generally, are simply referred to, rather than focused upon materially – that should indeed receive further consideration.
Some of these issues could usefully be pursued by the Government Equalities Office. It is certainly the case that the operation of the Equality Act, in respect of trans people with a GRC, should be clarified, and as a matter of urgency.
Furthermore, when more normal times have returned, the Government should be investigating why the number of under-18s being referred to Gender Identity Development Services went from 96 in the period 2009-10, to 2,016 in 2016-17 – and why demand for adult services at the UK’s leading gender identity clinic has seen annual increases of 20-40 per cent in recent years


conservativehome--2020-03-24--Is the scaling back of services on London tube and buses doing more harm than good?

There has been criticism of Transport for London due to overcrowding on the London Underground and bus services .
Passenger numbers are down significantly : by the end of last week there was a 70 per cent fall in the number of passengers on the tube and a 40 per cent reduction in passengers on the buses , compared to normal circumstances .
Despite that , there are significant problems .
First of all , those of us familar with commuting in London can imagine that even with such reductions , the “ social distancing ” guidelines of six and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain .
Secondly , there has been a reduction in services .
Last week , TfL announced : “ London buses will operate fewer services , but TfL ’ s extensive night bus network will continue to provide critical workers with a reliable night option on Friday and Saturday nights and throughout the week .
Everyone is urged not to use public transport for anything other than essential journeys .
Following the Government ’ s advice to stop non-essential social contact , the Mayor of London has asked Transport for London ( TfL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to services to ensure a safe and reliable service to enable London ’ s critical workers who need to make essential journeys .
The Mayor of London and TfL are urging all other customers to follow the Government ’ s advice and not make anything but essential journeys…40 London Underground ( LU ) stations that do not interchange with other lines will be closed until further notice….there will be no service on the Waterloo & City line… TfL will gradually reduce the frequency of other services across the TfL network to provide a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they need to – ensuring that remaining services are not overcrowded .
TfL is aiming to run Tube trains every 4 minutes in Zone 1 , with the possibility that this will reduce further…..London Overground , TfL Rail , the DLR and London Trams will run fewer services .
On the bus network , from Monday 23 March until further notice , a service similar to a Saturday will run….
” Some reduction in services would probably be inevitable .
A number of TfL staff are already unavailable for work .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tube unions are very powerful and would be resistant to showing flexibility to allow the service to be maintained .
But the extent of the reduction in services is a choice , at least at this stage .
The idea is to give people a “ nudge ” to stay at home – but not to close down the service entirely .
I can see that this might have some impact .
Supposing , for example , that your nearest tube station is Holland Park .
That has been closed so if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to walk a bit further ( to Notting Hill Gate or Shepherd ’ s Bush ) for your Central Line train .
If the journey is necessary then you would – if it is not really necessary then it might discourage you .
What is harder to justify is the reduced frequency of trains for those who do feel they need to persist with travelling .
My hunch is that overwhelmingly those Londoners who are working from home would do so , even if the trains were not less frequent .
Often , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work from home by responsible employers .
But there are millions of “ key workers ” – that definition has rightly been broadened to include many in the private sector .
They have not just the right , but the duty , to continue going into work for the benefit of us all .
Should they be forced to put themselves and their families at risk being being obliged to use crowded buses and trains ?
One option would be greater compulsion .
Andrew Boff , a member of the London Assembly tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tube services to Saturday frequencies .
This should be enough for those who have no choice but to travel .
But we ’ ve all been surprised by the number of people who , let ’ s face it , can ’ t all be key workers , commuting as though these were ordinary times .
The Government doesn ’ t want to use compulsion , preferring that people adjust their behaviour out of consideration to those who are more vulnerable to the effects of Covid19 .
It appears that that concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought .
You won ’ t meet many people more libertarian than I am , but in these critical times excessive social contacts are nothing short of a danger to many thousands of people .
If it needs a law to protect them then so be it.
” Would such a draconian law be practical ?
I am sure that the Mayor of London and his officials at TfL are concerned to save lives , with the power that they have .
What makes these decisions so grim is that they involve a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing more harm than good ?
The honest answer is that we don ’ t know .
But it would seem to many of us that a mistake has probably been made .
The frequency of trains and buses should be increased so that those key workers we rely on , are able to commute in safety

There has been criticism of Transport for London due to overcrowding on the London Underground and bus services. Passenger numbers are down significantly: by the end of last week there was a 70 per cent fall in the number of passengers on the tube and a 40 per cent reduction in passengers on the buses, compared to normal circumstances.
Despite that, there are significant problems. First of all, those of us familar with commuting in London can imagine that even with such reductions, the “social distancing ” guidelines of six and a half feet would be hard to maintain. Secondly, there has been a reduction in services. Last week, TfL announced:
“London buses will operate fewer services, but TfL’s extensive night bus network will continue to provide critical workers with a reliable night option on Friday and Saturday nights and throughout the week. Everyone is urged not to use public transport for anything other than essential journeys.
Following the Government’s advice to stop non-essential social contact, the Mayor of London has asked Transport for London (TfL) to make a number of changes to services to ensure a safe and reliable service to enable London’s critical workers who need to make essential journeys. The Mayor of London and TfL are urging all other customers to follow the Government’s advice and not make anything but essential journeys…40 London Underground (LU) stations that do not interchange with other lines will be closed until further notice….there will be no service on the Waterloo & City line… TfL will gradually reduce the frequency of other services across the TfL network to provide a service for critical workers to get to where they need to – ensuring that remaining services are not overcrowded. TfL is aiming to run Tube trains every 4 minutes in Zone 1, with the possibility that this will reduce further…..London Overground, TfL Rail, the DLR and London Trams will run fewer services.
On the bus network, from Monday 23 March until further notice, a service similar to a Saturday will run….”
Some reduction in services would probably be inevitable. A number of TfL staff are already unavailable for work. Even though there is considerable overmanning, the tube unions are very powerful and would be resistant to showing flexibility to allow the service to be maintained. But the extent of the reduction in services is a choice, at least at this stage. The idea is to give people a “nudge” to stay at home – but not to close down the service entirely.
I can see that this might have some impact. Supposing, for example, that your nearest tube station is Holland Park. That has been closed so if you want the Circle Line you would have to walk a bit further (to Notting Hill Gate or Shepherd’s Bush) for your Central Line train. If the journey is necessary then you would – if it is not really necessary then it might discourage you.
What is harder to justify is the reduced frequency of trains for those who do feel they need to persist with travelling. My hunch is that overwhelmingly those Londoners who are working from home would do so, even if the trains were not less frequent. Often, indeed, they would be required to work from home by responsible employers.
But there are millions of “key workers” – that definition has rightly been broadened to include many in the private sector. They have not just the right, but the duty, to continue going into work for the benefit of us all. Should they be forced to put themselves and their families at risk being being obliged to use crowded buses and trains?
One option would be greater compulsion. Andrew Boff, a member of the London Assembly tells me:
“TfL have rightly reduced the tube services to Saturday frequencies. This should be enough for those who have no choice but to travel. But we’ve all been surprised by the number of people who, let’s face it, can’t all be key workers, commuting as though these were ordinary times. The Government doesn’t want to use compulsion, preferring that people adjust their behaviour out of consideration to those who are more vulnerable to the effects of Covid19. It appears that that concern is not as widespread as we first thought. You won’t meet many people more libertarian than I am, but in these critical times excessive social contacts are nothing short of a danger to many thousands of people. If it needs a law to protect them then so be it.”
Would such a draconian law be practical?
I am sure that the Mayor of London and his officials at TfL are concerned to save lives, with the power that they have. What makes these decisions so grim is that they involve a trade off. Could they end up doing more harm than good? The honest answer is that we don’t know. But it would seem to many of us that a mistake has probably been made. The frequency of trains and buses should be increased so that those key workers we rely on, are able to commute in safety


conservativehome--2020-03-24--WATCH: Hancock leads the Government’s daily press conference. He announces a new 4000 bed field hosp

WATCH: Hancock leads the Government’s daily press conference. He announces a new 4000 bed field hospital in London.

The press conference begins eight minutes into the video .

WATCH LIVE: Health Secretary @MattHancock hosts the #coronavirus press conference (24 March 2020) https://t.co/wdSSGz5YOZ — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 24, 2020
The press conference begins eight minutes into the video.


conservativehome--2020-03-24--Meanwhile, while you were distracted by other events, the Government has nationalised the railways

To be precise , the Department of Transport has suspended normal franchise agreements and transferred “ all revenue and cost @ @ @ @ @ a limited period , initially six months .
Operators will continue to run services day-to-day @ @ @ @ @ fee ” .
That isn ’ t quite taking public ownership of track and trains @ @ @ @ @ s pretty much as good as .
We flag it up simply because the news @ @ @ @ @ published yesterday morning , and so much has happened since that a small proportion of @ @ @ @ @ the news .
As for “ a limited period ” , well , we will @ @ @ @ @ used to say , nothing is so permanent as a temporary Government programme .

To be precise, the Department of Transport has suspended normal franchise agreements and transferred “all revenue and cost risk to the government for a limited period, initially six months. Operators will continue to run services day-to-day for a small predetermined management fee”.
That isn’t quite taking public ownership of track and trains combined, but it’s pretty much as good as.
We flag it up simply because the news broke after our newslinks were published yesterday morning, and so much has happened since that a small proportion of our readers may have missed the news. As for “a limited period”, well, we will see: as Milton Friedman used to say, nothing is so permanent as a temporary Government programme.