Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a parental isolation grant for parents who are having to look after a child who is having to isolate during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government continues to assess all elements of its COVID-19 response, including the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. The scheme will continue into the summer and will be expanded to cover parents who are unable to work because they are caring for a child who is self-isolating. The funding made available for local authorities will be increased to £20 million per month. There will also be more funding to help local authorities ensure people self-isolating have access to practical support, such as food deliveries or help with their caring responsibilities and support for wellbeing.