Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2021 to Question 83432 on Coronavirus: Contact Tracing, when the review of the Contain Outbreak Management Fund be published.

In December 2021, we confirmed to local authorities that unspent monies from the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) can be carried forward to the 2022/23 financial year. Updated guidance clarifying the new criteria will be provided in due course. We are continuing to consider the potential funding requirement for local outbreak support therefore we do not currently have a timetable for the outcome of the review. We are working with local authorities to ensure that the COMF aids them to deliver the objectives of their Local Outbreak Management Plans and support their communities.