Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall South)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many positive covid-19 cases were recorded on the Parliamentary estate in each month from November 2021 to March 2022.
Answered by Charles Walker
Following the change to Government guidance in February 2022 individuals were no longer required to inform their workplace if they tested positive for Covid. The figures below therefore represent the number of positive cases where an individual chose to share their result.
As the original case information has now been deleted in line with our privacy policies, only a summary per week is available.
25 March–1 April: 47
18–24 March: 75
11–17 March: 51
4–10 March: 47
25 February–3 March: 11
18–24 February: 15
11–17 February: 18
The numbers below represent the number of validated case numbers, using data held by the UKHSA and the Parliamentary test and trace team.
4–10 February: 63
28 January–3 February: 61
21–27 January: 89
14–20 January: 68
7–13 January: 69
31 December–6 January: 110
24–30 December: 119
17–23 December: 128
10–16 December: 193
3–9 December: 66
26 November–2 December: 38
19–25 November: 34
12–18 November: 31
5–11 November: 20
29 October–4 November: 28
Asked by: Maria Miller (Conservative - Basingstoke)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many confirmed positive covid-19 tests there have been among Parliamentary pass holders who work on the Parliamentary estate for each of the last 10 weeks; and what estimate the House Authorities have made of the number of Parliamentary pass holders who were working on the Parliamentary estate for each of the last 10 weeks.
Answered by Charles Walker
Following further review of cases linked to the estate, UKHSA have identified 143 positive cases occurring between the 4th October–16th November. However, due to delays in reporting, additional cases may yet be identified that tested positive between 12th November and 16th November.
This review identified that over 50% of positive cases had not been reported by members of the Parliamentary community to the Parliamentary test and trace team.
Data recorded by the House is held solely for the purpose of supporting test and trace and is only recorded for 21 days where an individual notifies us.
Details on weekly cases are held for the last five weeks only following the UKHSA review. The maximum number of passholders working on the estate for any day in the relevant week are included for the equivalent periods.
Week | Positive Cases | Maximum daily number of passholders |
5/11 – 11/11 | 20 | 4018 |
29/10 – 4/11 | 28 | 4364 |
22/10 – 28/10 | 43 | 4398 |
15/10 – 21/10 | 21 | 4504 |
08/10 – 14/10 | 12 | 3158 |
01/10 – 07/10 |
| 2204 |
24/09 – 30/09 |
| 2108 |
17/09 – 23/09 |
| 3644 |
10/09 – 16/09 |
| 4280 |
03/09 – 09/09 |
| 4261 |
Asked by: Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will set out (a) the number of daily positive covid-19 cases on the Parliamentary Estate from 18 October 2021 to date and (b) the case threshold at which the Commission considered it necessary to reintroduce enhanced measures.
Answered by Charles Walker
114 cases with links to the Parliamentary estate have been reported between the 4th October – 5th November.
The Parliamentary test and trace team, in partnership with the UKHSA, including the North West London Health protection team highlighted an increase in cases from the week commencing 18th October and recommended that there was a need for additional measures on Tuesday 26th October and Monday 1st November. These were agreed by the Commission on the same day.
Advice will be provided to the Commission by the UKHSA on the need for measures in response to cases being identified, in line with other workplaces.
Previously the Commission has agreed a range of trigger points which prompt a review of the current situation.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will publish the (a) available data on carbon dioxide levels in locations in the House of Commons and (b) risk assessment of the effect of levels of carbon dioxide in the House of Commons on the transmission of covid-19.
Answered by Charles Walker
Guidance has been published by the Health and Safety Executive on ventilation and air conditioning during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This, along with the latest Government guidance has been incorporated into the Parliamentary Covid risk assessment.
Carbon Dioxide monitoring has been carried out across the estate in recent months. No readings on the estate have met or exceeded Government thresholds, which would recommend further action be taken. Should any readings exceed recommended levels these would then be managed and mitigated against, in line with other risks, and consulted on in the normal way.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when Parliament plans to introduce a rapid covid-19 testing programme for people working on the parliamentary estate.
Answered by Pete Wishart
Parliament in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Care, has set up a pilot programme for onsite rapid testing, in line with a number of workplaces across the country. The pilot went live on Monday 25 January. Rapid testing is one of a number of useful mitigations that can be used by the House. The most effective measures remain, in line with public health advice, social distancing and the reduction of numbers on site.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has received advice from Public Health England on what level of increased risk of covid-19 infection would require the suspension of work on the Parliamentary Estate.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The Commission has received no advice from Public Health England on what level of increased risk of covid-19 infection would require the suspension of work on the Parliamentary Estate.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what advice has been received since November 2020 from Public Health England on the risks of people continuing to work on the Parliamentary estate contracting covid-19; and if he will publish that advice.
Answered by Pete Wishart
Public Health England has supported the House in responding to Covid-19 throughout the past 12 months. Its advice, in conjunction with the working safely guidance which is available to all workplaces, has been incorporated into the Working safely on the Parliamentary estate during the coronavirus outbreak risk assessment. This document has been updated to reflect any changes any in the situation, with the most recent published on 14 January. The assessment is available for anyone to view on the Parliamentary website:
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what recommendations have been received from Public Health England since November 2020 on the circumstances in which the suspension of work on the Parliamentary estate would be advisable owing to the increased risk of infection from covid-19.
Answered by Pete Wishart
Public Health England has confirmed that the measures put in place to ensure the House remains Covid secure are appropriate to manage the risk of infection. As the risks are being managed, Public Health England has issued no advice around where suspension of work on the estate may be necessary.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has plans to make the wearing of face coverings mandatory on the Parliamentary estate.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The Commission is led by the current Government advice on the use of face masks and coverings. Whilst the guidance on the use of face coverings in shops and supermarkets will change on the 24th July, it is not applicable to the Parliamentary estate, as no onsite services are currently provided to the public.
Face coverings are not a replacement for social distancing and regular handwashing which remain the most important actions. As hon. Members and staff can maintain social distancing and have easy access to handwashing facilities or hand sanitiser, it was concluded that face coverings are not necessary at this time. However, there is no bar on those choosing to wear face masks from doing so.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent assessment the Commission has made of the level of risk of covid-19 spreading through the Parliamentary estate in areas and rooms which are air conditioned; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Pete Wishart
The Parliamentary Maintenance Services Team (PMST) has developed a high-level management plan to identify and control risks relating to air conditioning systems.
Specific industry guidance on how to operate and use air conditioning systems to minimise the spread of covid-19 has been issued by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). PMST has applied this guidance and also follow the UK Planned Preventive Maintenance Standard SFG20, which has a specific revision dealing with covid-19. This, in combination with PMST’s management arrangements constitutes a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk.
Regarding the operation of the systems, wherever buildings have mechanical ventilation PMST has switched air conditioning units to fresh air only, so there is no recirculation of air from the indoor environment – it is all discharged into the atmosphere outside. PMST is also modifying controls strategies to run plant at 100% 24/7 to ensure greater air exchanges.
There is no current evidence of ventilation systems transmitting covid-19 at present. The supply air ductwork brings filtered fresh air from outside the buildings into the environment and the extract ductwork discharges air to outside; therefore, there will be no risk to building occupants as no extracted air is recirculated.