Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Working Parents and School Closures

Lord Blunkett Excerpts

Monday 18th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Blunkett (Lab) [V]]

My Lords, the TUC has highlighted the challenge. Surely the only answer in the short term is to use the February half-term break to vaccinate all teaching and non-teaching staff and get the children back into school. Perhaps the Minister will take that back to her colleagues in Cabinet.

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, I am happy to take that back, but as regards the vaccination schedule, we are following the initial first wave set out by the JCVI, which goes by clinical vulnerability and particularly by age. I know that we will consider further waves after that and that we will consider the latest evidence, including on transmission and the impact on workers and public services.