Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the covid-19 testing of children under five years of age in the context of the reopening of schools, nurseries and childcare settings.

The phased reopening of schools for some year groups from 1 June is crucial to getting the country back on its feet. Testing symptomatic children is fundamental to this success. This will also be supported by, but is not dependent on, the NHS Test and Trace service. Testing will remain available to any child who develops symptoms of COVID-19 or who lives with someone who does in England and Wales.