Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an (a) assessment of the potential merits of and (b) estimate of the capital investment requirements for installing or improving ventilation systems in school buildings to reduce potential transmission of covid-19 during cold weather.

The Department has made no such assessment.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has advised that ventilation is in some circumstances an important factor in mitigating against the risk of transmission of COVID-19. The Department has therefore been working closely with a range of partners, including other government departments, school workforce unions, the Health and Safety Executive and the Chartered Institute of Building Services, as well as SAGE, to develop ventilation guidance for schools during the outbreak.

The guidance is expected to be published in the autumn term and will highlight the importance of balancing well ventilated spaces with comfortable environments. This can be achieved through a variety of measures including natural ventilation.