Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of scientific evidence for allowing children living with a single parent to visit grandparents living together, but not children who live with both parents.

We understand that social distancing has been difficult for many, but especially those who currently live alone, or are the only adult in a household. We have amended COVID-19 social distancing regulations to allow a single adult household to form a support bubble with one other household. Groups of up to six people are still able to meet outdoors as long as they follow social distancing guidelines.

The Government made this change to support the loneliest and most isolated in society. It is a targeted intervention to provide extra support to some of those most impacted by the most difficult effects of the current social restrictions, while ensuring we continue to keep the rate of transmission low.