To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention of key workers during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government defines key workers as those whose work are critical to the Coronavirus response. This includes those who work in the health and social care sectors, as well as in education and childcare, transport, food and delivery, utilities, communications, public safety, and the Government.

To assist retention, schools will provide essential support to the most vulnerable children and the children of those identified as key workers.

In addition, the Department of Health and Social Care is enhancing the capacity and flexible deployment of staff across essential services, for example:

• By allowing the temporary registration of recently retired NHS staff and social workers.
• By allowing retired staff to return to the NHS without a negative impact on their pension.
• By providing additional indemnity cover to key workers.

By protecting the employment rights of NHS volunteers.