Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether their Department has purchased mobile UV virus irradiation units.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently funding a programme of work to assess the ability of air cleaning devices to mitigate aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other air borne pathogens. This includes research to assess the ability of UVC devices to mitigate aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne pathogens.

As part of commissioning the Rapid Covid-19 Disinfection Study (RCADS), NHS Test & Trace, which is now part of UKHSA, purchased upper room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (ur-UVGI) and active enclosed UVC devices via an accelerated open procedure as per government policy.

In addition, funding to purchase high efficiency particulate air filters with integral UVC was provided to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Addenbrookes Hospital as part of commissioning the Addenbrookes Air Disinfection Study.