Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to increase the (a) pay and (b) statutory sick pay of carers during the covid-19 outbreak.

We are incredibly proud of all our staff in social care. We are working hard to ensure that carers feel supported and safe to continue the fight against COVID-19.

We have announced £1.6 billion of funding for local authorities to help support adult social care providers and staff to respond to COVID-19. This includes the cost of maintaining income as far as possible for those that are unable to work. This aims to ensure that carers who are unwell or self-isolating do not lose out financially because they are doing the right thing. This is on top of measures that allow the payment of Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness or isolation.

In addition, eligible employers will be able to reclaim up to two weeks of statutory sick pay paid for absences relating to COVID-19.