Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many confirmed cases of covid-19 there have been among his Department's (a) employed staff and (b) sponsored agency staff; and how many of those staff have had to self-isolate as a result of covid-19.

Staff in the Department for Transport and its agencies, in line with Government policy, are instructed to work from home where possible.

Any member of staff who tests positive for COVID19 is not required to share this information with their employer unless they are unable to work due to illness or a requirement to self-isolate.

The Department and its Executive Agencies record the total number of staff who are unable to work due to having symptoms of COVID19. This number might include those with symptoms but who have not received the outcome of a test. Similarly, it might exclude those in isolation at home who are continuing to work as they are asymptomatic.

The system is set up to record current absences. On 25/01/2021 these numbers were as follows:

Given the expectation that staff will work from home where they can, where staff are required to self-isolate this should not impact their ability to carry out their job.