Steve Brine once again pushed the case for schools to fully re-open during a debate in the House of Commons.
The Member of Parliament for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford told Secretary of State for Health and Social, Matt Hancock, that Ministers had to recognise the damage being done and let the success of vaccine roll-out be matched with a plan for getting children back in school.
The MP, who has been among those leading the debate on this subject, has received significant representation from concerned parents and last week told the Prime Minister they are “increasingly alarmed” about their children’s physical and mental health.
He said; “The Government’s acceptance last week that the release of our society – rightly starting with our schools – should move in lockstep with the success of vaccine roll-out was very welcome”, and he asked Mr Hancock if could “Assure parents we will follow an increasing number of countries around Europe and in the UK and stick to the principle that as the vulnerable groups are protected we re-open the schools.”
The Health Secretary gave a resolute “Yes, of course!” in response as news broke that Scotland will begin re-opening its schools straight after half-term.
Steve Brine has called for teachers and school (as well as early years) staff to be vaccinated in the second phase of the programme after February 15th.
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