Students’ Return to Universities

Debate between Gavin Williamson and Yasmin Qureshi

Tuesday 29th September 2020 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Williamson]

I pay tribute to the University of Bolton for all the work that it has been doing in order to be able to welcome back its many thousands of students. The University of Bolton plays an important role in providing education not just for students who have travelled internationally and across the country but locally for many young people. We will continue to work with the University of Bolton to ensure that people understand how the rules are applied. We need to make sure that people understand who needs to isolate and how long they should be isolating for, but equally, they need to understand that many young people can go about their normal business while observing the restrictions and courtesies that we ask all universities and all people within society to observe.

[Yasmin Qureshi (Bolton South East) (Lab) [V]]

What concrete action did the Secretary of State put in place over the summer to ensure that all students and staff requiring a covid test will be able to have one?

[Gavin Williamson]

As I mentioned, we continue to work with the Department of Health and Social Care and with Test and Trace to expand the footprint of testing facilities, which are going to be increased to 500. We are making sure that all universities are within walking distance of a testing centre. Many universities will be making some of their facilities available so that testing centres can be placed there. We have also had assurances from the Department of Health and Social Care in terms of mobile testing facilities that will be made available if there are any local outbreaks and that is required.