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WQ.82/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY L.M.C. DOUBLET OF ST. SAVIOUR
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 1st MARCH 2021
Question
Will the Minister explain what analysis, if any, was undertaken to assess how the needs and rights of younger children would be affected by the Covid-19 Winter Strategy and the Government's subsequent exit strategies; and will he advise Members of where and how any such analysis has been documented?
Answer
Answer tabled on 1st March 2021
The rights and needs of children have been central to decision-making related to both the Covid-19 Winter Strategy and associated exist strategies. This is demonstrated by the priority given to ensuring that schools, including primary schools, have remained open plus the ongoing provision of all registered day care settings and non-registered children's activity groups, albeit with the limit of 10 participants.
Revised answer tabled on 11th March 2021
The rights and needs of children have been central to decision making related to both the Covid-19 Winter Strategy and associated exit strategies. This is demonstrated by the priority given to ensuring that schools, including primary schools, have remained open plus the ongoing provision of all registered day care settings and non-registered children's activity groups albeit with the limit of 10 participants. As set out in that Strategy, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) advised Ministers that a balance needed to be struck between the risks of infection and children's right to an education that enables children to fulfil their potential education and wider wellbeing. In light of that advice, which was accepted by Ministers, no specific analysis of rights or need was undertaken and the minutes of STAC record the deliberations of medical, scientific and technical advisors in seeking to achieve a balance of potential harms.