Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the risk of transmission of covid-19 as a result of moving families of asylum seekers under his Department's programme entitled Operation Oak.

The movement of service users as part of Operation Oak will be undertaken in accordance with all relevant national or local health restrictions.

The Home Office has robust contingency plans in place and continues to follow national guidance issued by Public Health England (PHE), Health Protection Scotland and the National Health Service (NHS).

House moves are not prohibited under the PHE guidance and the avoidance of destitution is considered to be a critical service. The relevant PHE guidance can be found here:

Government advice on home moving during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)