Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) content and (b) availability of covid-19 workplace safety guidance for (i) employers and (ii) staff in the offshore wind industry; and when she last discussed that matter with that industry's representatives.

On 24^th March 2020, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wrote to the offshore wind industry reminding employers of their legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their workforce. The letter also directed duty holders to the more detailed social distancing guidelines on the Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and Public Health Wales websites.

On 26^th March 2020, HSE met virtually with representatives of major industry duty holders and trade associations to discuss how the industry would comply with social distancing requirements. On 1^st April 2020 the Renewable Energy Emergency Response Forum (“REEF”) held a meeting at which HSE, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Police and industry representatives agreed that each duty holder would develop their own arrangements to comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, based on the above mentioned social distancing guidelines.

Since then, HSE continues to contact offshore wind farm duty holders to check that they have suitable COVID-19 risk control measures in place.