Schools: Coronavirus

(asked on 25th March 2020) - View Source

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to including (1) building maintenance engineers, (2) personnel supporting the critical lifeline utilities, and (3) non-police security staff, in the list of essential staff whose children can continue to be admitted to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Answered by
Lord True Portrait
Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
This question was answered on 8th April 2020

The position remains, as outlined on gov.uk, that everyone who can work from home should do so.

Where that is not possible, people should go into work where it is safe and they are not symptomatic, isolating or shielding. Relevant guidance including from PHE should be followed.

In terms of the provision of education for certain workers, it is already the case that in certain cases the staff listed above could be eligible as long as "their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service". This is set out on gov.uk.

The Government has placed restrictions on the operations of certain businesses as part of the strategy of enhanced social distancing. Separate guidance has been published on this and is also available on gov.uk.

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