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 (a) residents in care homes and (b) patients in hospitals are allowed safe and regular visits from family members.

We expect care homes to facilitate visits wherever possible. Our guidance says that each resident should be allowed three nominated visitors in addition to an essential care giver. Visitors to care homes should take a test before each visit and be asked to follow the infection control procedures set out in Government guidance. In hospitals, visiting arrangements are currently at the discretion of local trusts. Visiting should be welcomed in a careful, COVID-secure way.