Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to restore a full staff level at His Majesty’s Prison Wandsworth to prevent 23-hour lock-ups, eliminate rats, and restore the operation of the prison chapel.
Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
As with all establishments where there is a current or future need to fill vacancies, there is a recruitment campaign open for prison officers at HMP Wandsworth. To manage vacancies, establishments are also able to cover these through payment plus (an overtime payment for prison officers). Where staffing levels are being impacted by reasons other than vacancies, including sickness and restricted duties, this is being managed by Governors in line with national policy. If any establishments feel that their staffing levels will impact on stability, they can apply for extra resource through submitting a business case to the HMPPS Operational Resource and Stability Panel.
The Senior Leadership Team at HMP Wandsworth are committed to creating a regime that will allow prisoners to spend longer out of their cells and in work and education-related activities, which is essential to effective rehabilitation.
Similarly to other London-based buildings where a large number of people live and work, HMP Wandsworth takes steps to support the control of rats and other vermin, with Rentokil (a specialist hygiene provider for prisons and police) regularly visiting to implement control measures. This is supplemented with regular cleaning parties who are deployed to keep rubbish to a minimum and focused waste management at the prison, which supports rubbish disposal of internal and external waste. The prison has also implemented a new window project to limit the ability to throw rubbish outside. These measures are underpinned by a committed focus on creating a hygienic environment for prisoners.
There is an ongoing Government Facility Services Limited project to replace the roof and refurbish the prison’s chapel. Religious services will continue to be catered for across the prison whilst the work is underway, which is due to be completed in 2024.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister of the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of recognising people who work in the cleaning and hygiene sector as key workers.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
While a list of key workers was used previously in the Covid-19 response, the Cabinet Office does not keep a current list of key workers.
When responding to any future emergency, the Government will continue to consider, on a case by case basis, the merits of renewing key worker designation, and its scope.
Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Health and Safety Executive’s plans to ensure that there is sufficient access to sodium hypochlorite to maintain health and safety standards.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Disinfectants based on sodium hypochlorite are widely used to maintain hygiene levels, however health and safety legislation is not prescriptive about how effective levels of disinfection should be achieved. Instead, it gives duty holders the freedom to select the best method of cleaning and disinfection based on their individual circumstances.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not regulate supply chain issues and it is for end users to source adequate supplies of effective disinfectants, whether sodium hypochlorite or alternative products, to achieve appropriate levels of hygiene.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to review covid-19 guidance to childminders following the changes to self-isolation guidance.
Answered by Will Quince
The department has recently reviewed and updated its guidance for childminders with the UK Health Security Agency. From Thursday 17 March 2022, childminders can continue to childmind in their homes if someone who lives with them has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms.
Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission:
Childminders can also consider using alternative places to operate such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support childminders who have lost work due to testing positive for covid-19 or due to a positive case in their household following the closure of Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.
Answered by Will Quince
Keeping children and staff safe is the department’s utmost priority. Throughout the pandemic we have listened carefully to the latest scientific and medical advice when developing guidance.
The department has recently reviewed and updated our guidance for childminders with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
From 17 March 2022, childminders can continue to childmind in their homes if someone who lives with them has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms.
Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission:
Childminders can also consider using alternative places to operate such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.
Childminders who are unable to work due to COVID-19 can claim other government support such as Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, and the new style Employment and Support Allowance (subject to eligibility).
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of making financial support available to child minders where they are unable to provide childminding services as a result of someone in their household testing positive for covid-19.
Answered by Will Quince
The department has recently reviewed and updated guidance for childminders with the UK Health Security Agency. From Thursday 17 March 2022, childminders can continue to childmind in their homes if someone who lives with them has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms.
Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission:
Additional information on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 can be found in guidance published by the Cabinet Office, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae?utm_source=17%20March%202022%20C19&utm_medium=Daily%20Email%20C19&utm_campaign=DfE%20C19.
Childminders can also consider using alternative places to operate such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to next review its covid-19 guidance in relation to childminding settings.
Answered by Will Quince
Keeping children and staff safe is the department’s utmost priority and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have listened carefully to the latest scientific and medical advice when developing guidance.
The department has recently reviewed and updated its guidance for childminders with the UK Health Security Agency. This guidance is available here: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/18/childminders-can-continue-to-operate-from-home-if-someone-in-their-house-has-tested-positive-for-covid/.
Since 17 March 2022, childminders can continue to childmind in their homes if someone who lives with them has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms.
Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission:
Childminders can also consider using alternative places to operate, such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason guidance states that childminders cannot operate if they have a positive or suspected covid-19 case in their household, despite the removal of legal self-isolation requirements on 24 February 2022.
Answered by Will Quince
Since 17 March 2022, if someone in a childminder’s household has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms, childminders can continue to operate at home.
Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission:
Childminders can also consider using alternative places to operate, such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing financial assistance to childminders who are unable to operate in circumstances where someone in their household has tested positive for, or has symptoms of, covid-19.
Answered by Will Quince
Since Thursday 17 March, if someone in a childminder’s household has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms, childminders can continue to operate at home.
Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission:
The risk assessment must demonstrate that the provision of childcare in the setting is safe, and how childminders will put into place any additional but proportionate measures. Childminders can also consider using alternative places to operate such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) financial and (b) other steps he is taking to help support nurseries and early years settings in (i) Gosport constituency, (ii) Hampshire and (iii) England facing disruption related to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Will Quince
As we take the next steps in living with COVID-19, we remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keep early years providers open for all children.
At the Spending Review on 27 October 2021, the government announced additional funding of £160 million in the financial years 2022-23, £180 million in 2023-24, and £170 million in 2024-25, as compared to the current financial year. This is for local authorities to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers. It also reflects cost pressures as well as anticipated changes in the number of eligible children.
The department continues to publish comprehensive guidance to support nurseries and other early years providers in delivering a safe and secure environment for children and staff as we continue to learn to live with COVID-19. This applies to providers across England. This guidance explains the control measures that providers should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes ensuring good hygiene, maintaining appropriate cleaning regimes, and keeping spaces well-ventilated.
The department has also issued guidance to clarify that providers can use the existing flexibilities on ratios that are set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework. This will help manage short-term workforce pressures so long as children continue to be cared for safely.
The government continues to monitor the early years sector for issues, including through engagement with local authorities. These support measures apply to all early years and childcare providers across England.