Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to allocate further funding to support the provision of Covid Marshals.

The Government provided £30 million for compliance and enforcement, including funding for COVID-19 Secure Marshals or their equivalents. On 8 October, my department published guidance on how the Grant could be spent, including the recruitment of COVID-19 Marshals. COVID-19 Marshals have played an important role in supporting local authorities, encouraging social distancing to keep everyone safe.

My department is examining the use of the Grant as part of the three-month review into its effectiveness. The Government has allocated over £7.9 billion directly to councils since the start of the pandemic alongside additional funding support to businesses as part of the move to national restrictions. This wider funding includes the Contain Outbreak Management Fund which can be used to fund compliance and enforcement activity.