Virtual House of Lords today - This is my most of my speech and the Questions I asked the Minister . We had 3 mins MAX
Q1 - now care home deaths now being reported, is HMG changing its strategy for this sector?

Question 2 - For transparency will HMG report deaths in the community so that the true overall death figure is accurate, if not, why not?

Question 3 - HMG said the target delivery was 100,000 coronavirus tests by the end of April. Is this on target and how many more need to be done? Was this a logistics aim or medical aim? Will he confirm disabled people will not be excluded from testing?

Question 4 - Will HMG review Carer’s Allowance? Unpaid carers are also in a precarious position
Question 5 - Will HMG urgently review the guidance on Direct Payments. It’s confusing and families are at breaking point trying to manage working from home

However my biggest concern is that as I understand it, 8 areas have switched on the Care Act Easements.

I can find 6 -

Sunderland
Middlesbrough
Warwickshire
Staffordshire
Birmingham
Solihull

Question 6 - As a matter of urgency could the noble Lord the Minister confirm that these 6 are correct. It’s been reported in the Law Society Gazette (now removed) that the other two are Croydon and Hertfordshire, although Hertfordshire have said they have not triggered easement

This is very confusing for everyone. Can the Minister confirm which areas have triggered easement?

Question 7 - Could he explain how these areas have apparently reached crisis point such that they can’t carry out their duties to disabled people, but nowhere else has, or are there more than 8?

Question 8 - How are disabled people expected to get advice if they don’t know what law their local area is applying?

Finally question 9 - Does the noble Lord the minister accept that HMG should publish on a very regular basis the full list of areas that have switched on Care Act Easements and if they are not prepared to do so, explain why not?