Thank you for contacting me about construction workers.

I share your concern for the safety of all workers who are continuing to travel to work, as they are unable to work from home, including construction workers. In line with the Chief Medical Officer’s advice they can continue to do so.

On 31 March Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, wrote to all workers in the construction industry to update them on what steps the Government and industry leaders are taking to ensure their safety.

I am pleased that the construction industry has developed Site Operating Procedures (SOP), which were published by the Construction Leadership Council. These align with the latest guidance from Public Health England and, as this health guidance updates, the SOP will adjust to reflect any changes.

The Government has published guidance for all workers on the www.gov.uk website. You can find the relevant guidance by searching for 'COVID-19: guidance for employees, employers and businesses'.

The Secretary of State paid tribute to the construction workers who continue to work tirelessly to build temporary hospitals, construct new infrastructure or build new homes. These are just some examples of the vital work the construction industry does for the UK and, while we are living in unprecedented times, their work is as important as ever.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.