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Written question asked by Baroness Altmann (Conservative) on Monday, 8 June 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 June 2020. It was answered by Lord Callanan (Conservative) on Monday, 15 June 2020 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Coronavirus: Older People and Pregnancy

Question

Her Majesty's Government, following the classification of (1) all people aged over 70, and (2) all pregnant women, as ‘clinically vulnerable’ to COVID-19, whether (a) employers are entitled to deny such people the same chance to work as others, regardless of their health, and (b) voluntary organisations are entitled to ban such people from volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic. [T]

Answer

It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of their age or because of being pregnant or on maternity leave.

Under Health and Safety legislation, employers have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from risk to their health and safety. They should do everything reasonably practicable to minimise the risks. Clinically vulnerable individuals, who are at higher risk of severe illness, have been asked to take extra care in observing social distancing and should be helped to work from home, either in their current role or in an alternative role.

If clinically vulnerable individuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the option of the safest available on site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others. The Health and Safety risk assessment should reflect this.

The Health and Safety Executive has guidance for business on how to manage risk and risk assessment at work along with specific advice to help control the risk of coronavirus in workplaces.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5341
Session
2019-21
Procedure
Topical questions for written answer
Subjects
Employment Disease control Older people Pregnancy Voluntary work Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk