Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any additional funding will be made available to help local authorities make high-rise buildings covid-safe during the covid-19 outbreak.

We have continued to support councils throughout the pandemic, demonstrated by the fact we have provided over £4.6 billion in un-ringfenced funding to councils across four tranches throughout the financial year. This is un-ringfenced funding intended to ensure that local areas can prioritise based on their own understanding of local pressures.

In total, we have committed over £7.2 billion for local authorities even before the extension of the Contain Outbreak Management Fund for those authorities under the highest level of restriction - potentially worth over £200 million a month - announced as part of the Covid-19 Winter Plan.

Alongside this, we have provided a range of guidance to support people and mitigate the risk of transmission, including residents living in blocks/ buildings with shared spaces. I refer the Hon. member to the answer to Question UIN 122933 on 8 December 2020.