Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the full eligibility criteria for the death in service benefit for NHS and social care staff who have died from covid-19.

The Government is in the process of setting up a life assurance scheme for frontline health and social care staff in England who contract COVID-19 during the course of their work.

The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where staff die as a result of COVID-19 and had been recently working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who have recently contracted COVID-19.

The Department will publish the legal rules for the scheme, which will cover eligibility, as soon as possible. The NHS Business Services Authority will administer the scheme and will also publish guidance for staff and employers.

We understand the Scottish Government are working on a separate scheme for NHS Scotland.