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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the (a) retirement and (b) extra care housing sector across all tenures.

My officials have been having weekly meetings with sector representatives. Whilst Covid-19 has been very challenging, the sector has not reported major problems with the management of infection or business continuity. I would like to pay tribute to the commitment shown by the sector and its front line staff and managers, across all tenures, to ensure delivery of high quality services to vulnerable older residents, in trying circumstances.

I have asked my officials to continue to engage responsively with the sector, as we progress along the road map that the Prime Minister has set out on the route to normality.