Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on home working for parents whilst schools are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what assessment they have made of the benefits of having one parent work from home as the primary care giver.

The government has advised everyone to work from home if possible. Guidance on staying at home is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others.

We have also asked parents to keep their children at home, wherever possible, but asked schools and all childcare providers to continue to provide care for a limited number of children, including children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home. Guidance for schools is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing.