Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government's care home visitor key worker scheme, whether visitors are planned to receive the same (a) access to testing and (b) PPE as care home staff.

In December 2020, we rolled-out testing and personal protective equipment to care homes nationwide for use by visitors to enable more meaningful, indoor visits. Close-contact visits facilitated by testing are currently not advised during this period of national lockdown. We will review the guidance when the period of national lockdown ends and look to open up more opportunities for visiting when it is safe to do so.