Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his oral statement of 20 July 2020, Official Report, column 1850, on Coronavirus Response, what assessment he has made of the effect on local covid-19 transmission rates of not sharing enhanced levels of data with local authorities prior to 20 July 2020.

Public Health England has shared daily and weekly local, regional and national surveillance and epidemiology reports with local authorities since May 2020. The information contained in these reports is used to inform local risk assessments and situational awareness.

The provision of a daily list of cases and their contacts to local authorities from 20 July was an extension to these ongoing activities.