Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to covid-19 restrictions on contact between households, what assessment the Government has made of the challenges faced by households that rely on grandparents to assist with childcare; and what advice his Department has published for households in that situation.

From Monday 14 September, people must not meet with those from other households socially in groups of more than six. This rule will not apply to individual households or support bubbles of more than six who will still be able to gather together.

Single-adult households are able to form a support bubble which allows for close contact as normal. The guidance on social distancing from those who people do not live with is critical to controlling the spread of the virus and keeping people safe, but we recognise that this is particularly challenging for people who rely on grandparents for childcare to comply with. We are looking closely at this issue at present.

Guidance on meeting people from outside of the household has been published and is available at the following link:

See refreshed guidance on social contact, including the exceptions to the 6 person limit