Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of working from home in limiting the spread of the covid-19 virus.

The Government has advised that now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel; or people to start working from home where they possibly can and to avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues; to avoid all unnecessary social contact (this is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions); and to use the National Health Service only when necessary, preferably online rather than ringing NHS 111.