Covid-19: Winter Plan Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Covid-19: Winter Plan

Wendy Chamberlain Excerpts
Monday 23rd November 2020

(4 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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Yes, golf is back. Outdoor sport will be available under all the tiers, and we will publish all the details for each tier imminently.

Wendy Chamberlain Portrait Wendy Chamberlain (North East Fife) (LD)
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I welcome the plans in place to test students, enabling them to travel home for Christmas, and I commend the work of the University of St Andrews, in my constituency, which has stepped in to facilitate that, but a gap remains in terms of the new year. We need to ensure that where students must return to university they can do so safely, as well as give reassurance to the communities in which they are situated. I understand from the covid winter plan that guidance will follow suit, but will the Secretary of State, on behalf of the Government, advise me as to what engagement is being had with devolved nations about the return and testing of students in January, including discussions on default online teaching?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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Yes, this is a really important subject to get right. The use of testing will make it easier for students safely to go home and then safely to return to university. I have discussed that with my colleagues from across the four nations, not least because so many students go to university in different parts of the UK. I hope we have a good regime in place for the return of students, just as we have a good regime in place for students to be able safely to go home, using the new lateral flow tests that we now have available thanks to the huge investment and the work we did over the summer.