Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities are adequately prepared to deal with a Covid-19 outbreak.

My Department continues to work with local partners, including local authorities and local resilience forums, to assist preparedness to manage the potential impacts of a Covid-19 outbreak. As part of business continuity and local risk assessment processes, local partners already have well developed pandemic-flu plans in place. Local partners are reviewing these plans to reflect the relevant scientific advice on Covid-19.