Covid-19: Education Settings Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Department for Education

Covid-19: Education Settings

Munira Wilson Excerpts
Tuesday 6th July 2021

(2 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Munira Wilson Portrait Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD)
- Parliament Live - Hansard - -

Today’s announcement about the scrapping of bubbles and self-isolation for pupils will be welcome news to many parents, pupils and teachers across the country. The Secretary of State made passing reference to the importance of ventilation. We know now about the importance of ventilation because it is an airborne virus. Therefore, what more is he doing to support schools to put better ventilation in place? Yesterday I visited Richmond upon Thames School in my constituency, which has spent £15,000 alone on improving ventilation. Many schools simply cannot do that, as they are already struggling to balance the books. What more support will he put in place, following the example of Germany and New York City?

Gavin Williamson Portrait Gavin Williamson
- Parliament Live - Hansard - - - Excerpts

At every stage during the pandemic we have provided support for schools to put in place the measures needed to restrict the transmission of covid and ensure that they can open. We recognise that good hand sanitising and good hygiene, along with ventilation, are important. We continue to offer schools advice on how best to deliver that.