THE LEADER of Solihull Council has said lobbying efforts to exempt grandparents from new coronavirus rules ‘have been listened to.’
Coun Ian Courts has welcomed an announcement yesterday (September 21) by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, which allows family who provide informal childcare to continue.
Relatives who look after children and vulnerable adults will be exempt from the new rules which were introduced in the borough on September 11, which bans households mixing at home.
Welcoming the announcement Coun Courts said: “The rules around childcare have been one of the areas that people in Solihull have been most upset about and we have recognised the impact it was having on family life in the borough.
“Working with our two MPs and with leaders of Birmingham and Sandwell, we have lobbied government hard to get a sensible and common sense approach.
“I’m delighted we’ve been listened to.
“Now people looking after children under 14 or vulnerable adults would be exempt from the new rules for caring purposes.
“It mean those with childcare needs can look to formal as well as informal arrangements to make sure they can work, safe in the knowledge their children are being cared for by family, friends or professionals.
“I know as an area of national intervention we have to have stricter rules about households mixing but childcare allows parents to work and we have to balance the Covid-19 risk against the economic benefit of people working, especially when key workers, doctors, nurses etc were also caught out by the previous rule.
“But remember this does not allow for play-dates or parties.”
