Local Government Responsibilities: Public Services

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:34 pm on 18 March 2020.

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Photo of David Simmonds David Simmonds Conservative, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner 3:34, 18 March 2020

I completely agree with what the Minister said about the reliance we will place on professionals and volunteers. One of the concerns that has been raised with me by my local authority is that many of those professionals are in the process of qualifying and they will be asked to see examinations that they expected to take—qualification processes—deferred, so that they can spend their valuable time now focusing on those who are most in need. Can the Minister provide some assurance to those professionals that the understandable interruption to their professional qualifications will not in any way disadvantage them in the progress they would otherwise have made, so that they can get on with that vital job today, knowing that they will be able to return to their studies, qualifications and professional development in due course, without inappropriate interruption?