Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional resources are to be made available to minimise the risk of infection from covid-19 among (a) homeless people, (b) prisoners, (c) prison staff and (d) people with drug or alcohol problems.

The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, local authorities and providers to make sure the sector is prepared to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

On 12 March the Minister of State (Lucy Frazer MP) at the Ministry of Justice issued a public statement on preparedness in prisons to protect staff and prisoners which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-prison-preparedness-lucy-frazer-statement

On 19 March the Government announced a £1.6 billion pounds of additional funding for local government to help them respond to COVID-19 pressures across all the services they deliver which includes support for adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people. Full details on this funding package can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-9-billion-funding-to-strengthen-care-for-the-vulnerable

On 27 March, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Luke Hall MP) Minister for at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, sent a letter to all local authorities in England to update them on plans to protect rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A copy of this letter can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-minister-hall-to-local-authorities