Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure personal protective equipment is allocated to workers in women's refuges during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government has issued guidance to providers of supported living, and homeless provision, which includes advice on safety, cleaning and isolation, which is available at the following links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-residential-care-supported-living-and-home-care-guidance/covid-19-guidance-for-supported-living-provision

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-services-for-people-experiencing-rough-sleeping/covid-19-guidance-for-hostel-or-day-centre-providers-of-services-for-people-experiencing-rough-sleeping

The Government is in discussion with refuge providers who are engaged in their own contingency planning to keep specialist domestic abuse safe accommodation and associated support services available to victims in line with Public Health England’s advice.