Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his Department's policy to allow people in a supported living setting to take their planned respite with their families during the covid-19 outbreak.

We know how beneficial it can be for people in supported living settings to see and spend time with their families. However, it is important that they continue to follow the current social distancing guidelines, in addition to the shielding advice for vulnerable groups where this applies. We are engaging with stakeholders to ensure relevant guidance appropriately considers the needs of those in supported living.

Social distancing guidelines are available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

Shielding advice for vulnerable groups is available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19