Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on whether the Government would a) reimpose restrictions on the hospitality sector and (b) reinstate job retention schemes in the event of a further covid-19 lockdown.

We have regular discussions with other Government departments on a range of issues related to controlling the spread of the virus. The current targeted and temporary measures will slow the entry and spread of the Omicron variant of concern and will be reviewed. This will protect the National Health Service from being overwhelmed. More economic and social restrictions would only be considered as a last resort, which includes restrictions on the hospitality sector.