Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Transmission in Schools

Monday 31 January 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government guided that ventilation is an important part of measures against covid.
  • Government delivered 353,000 CO2 monitors and up to 9,000 air cleaning units for classrooms.
  • Ministers missed their own target to offer every 12 to 15-year-old their first dose of vaccine.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Education
Context

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advised the Government to improve ventilation in schools in May 2020, and warned about winter preparedness in July 7. Over 400,000 children were out of school with covid last week, with more than 10 million days lost in the previous term due to absences.

Question

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advised the Government to improve ventilation in schools in May 2020. It warned the Government to prepare for winter in July 2020. More than 10 million days of in-person teaching were lost last term. More than 400,000 children were out of school with covid last week. A quarter of schools faced teacher absences of 15% or more. Air cleaning devices are more than 18 months late, and are being offered to fewer than one in 30 classrooms. Why did Ministers ignore the advice about the importance of ventilation in schools for so long?

Answer from Robin Walker

The Government have consistently guided that ventilation is an important part of the measures against covid. We have had a world-leading programme of rolling out CO2 monitors so that we can identify the classrooms that need extra support in this respect. Roughly 3% of classrooms came back as needing the extra support and the Secretary of State confirmed last week that every school that meets the criteria and that has applied for that will get it, paid for by the Department for Education. This is a successful response to ensure that schools have the support that they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a direct reason why ventilation advice was ignored initially

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Q2 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Education
Context

The Government have been advised to improve ventilation in schools since May 2020. Over 400,000 children were out of school with covid last week, and more than 10 million days of teaching were lost due to absences.

Question

More than 10 million days of in-person teaching were lost last term due to the pandemic. More than 400,000 children are currently out of school because of covid. A quarter of schools faced teacher absences of 15% or more. Air cleaning devices for classrooms have been delayed by over 18 months and will be offered in fewer than one in 30 classrooms. What measures is the Minister taking to address these issues?

Answer from Robin Walker

The Government continue to support a number of proportionate measures to reduce the spread of covid-19, testing regularly across settings, delivering 353,000 carbon dioxide monitors and up to 9,000 air cleaning units to ensure adequate ventilation, and committing a further £8 million to support the in-school vaccination programme. All that helps to protect face-to-face education.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific measures addressing the current issues raised

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Q3 Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South
NHS
Context

46% of 12 to 15-year-olds have not had their first dose, and one in eight children were out of school earlier this month due to the pandemic. The target to offer every child a vaccine by October half term was missed.

Question

Vaccination is key to protecting our children's learning in the classroom, yet 46% of 12 to 15-year-olds have still not had their first dose. One in eight children were off school earlier this month, causing more avoidable disruption to their education. Ministers missed their own target to offer every child a vaccine by October half term, so can the Minister tell the House what his vaccination target is now, and when he expects to meet it?

Answer from Robin Walker

As the hon. Gentleman will recognise, vaccines have never been compulsory for children. We want children to have vaccines, but they are optional and something that requires consent. We are continuing to support the vaccine programme, and the Secretary of State announced last week that we have accepted £8 million from NHS England to accelerate that in the schools pillar. The community pillar continues to be available to children in this age group.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific target or timeline for meeting vaccination goals

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