Written question asked by Jonathan Edwards (Independent (affiliation)) on Friday, 3 September 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 September 2021 (named day). It was answered by Mims Davies (Conservative) on Wednesday, 8 September 2021 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has she undertaken of the effect biological cleaning systems can have on (a) personal sensitisation, (b) sanitising work and (c) social places as part of work to reduce the spread of the covid-19 virus.

Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has taken the context of this question to mean that the term biological cleaning systems are the use of industrial enzymes (microbial and other animal sources) that are added to certain specialised healthcare and industrial cleaning products, typically used to pre-treat/clean equipment surfaces prior to finally cleaning or disinfection. HSE is not aware of the use of any biological cleaning systems like these being used to reduce the spread of COVID-19. HSE does provides guidance on Cleaning, hygiene and handwashing to reduce coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission (hse.gov.uk) as well as Disinfecting using fog, mist and other systems during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (hse.gov.uk).’

Secondary information