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Written question asked by Caroline Lucas (Green Party) on Tuesday, 19 January 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 January 2021. It was answered by Paul Scully (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Contact Tracing: Software

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2021 to Question 135888 on Contact Tracing: Computer Software, if he will make it his policy to update the safer working guidance section on supporting NHS Test and Trace, to include guidance that employers should not instruct employees to turn off the NHS track and trace app when in work, unless there are health and safety grounds for doing so; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Whilst the NHS track and trace app is not mandatory, employers should not discourage their employees from using it in the workplace. There are, however, some scenarios where the contact tracing feature should be turned off. These are when:

  • someone is working behind a Perspex (or equivalent) screen;
  • a phone is in storage, such as in a work locker;
  • working in a clinical setting practising infection prevention and control.

As set out in the Safer Working Guidance, in order to ensure workplaces are Covid-19 secure, employers must have an alternative system in place for people who either do not have a smartphone or do who not want to use the NHS Covid-19 app.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
140030
Session
2019-21
Related items
Contact Tracing: Software
Tuesday, 19 January 2021
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Software Employment NHS Mobile phones Coronavirus Contact tracing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk