Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that low -income parents and guardians whose child is asked to self-isolate due to the covid-19 outbreak are supported financially.

If an individual has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, they may be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment. This scheme supports people who are employed or self-employed, on a low income, unable to work from home and losing money as a result. The payment is in addition to other financial assistance that people receive, such as Statutory Sick Pay. Those who do not qualify for the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme may be eligible for other support, such as Universal Credit and New Style Employment and Support Allowance.

The Government keeps all elements of its COVID-19 response under review, including the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. We are also working closely with the 314 local authorities in England to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme, including the potential impact on groups who are not eligible to claim for it.