Written question WQ82521

The move to alert level two in our Coronavirus Control Plan enabled all holiday accommodation, including outdoor education centres, to reopen from 17 May providing accommodation for members of the same or extended household (or anyone who is a carer of a member of the household).

In line with the First Minister’s written statement on 4 June, shared accommodation by multiple households will not be permitted in Wales until we move fully into alert level one, when six people from six different households (excluding children under the age of 11 and carers) will be allowed to share holiday accommodation. This applies to all holiday accommodation, including outdoor education centres. The advice to schools in relation to educational trips is that they must comply with the regulations in place in Wales at the time. Residential education trips requiring accommodation to be shared by multiple households will therefore not be permitted in Wales until we move fully to alert level one.

Wales moved into alert level on June 7 in a phased way, starting with outdoors activities and events. The First Minister also confirmed an increase in the number of households, which can form an extended household in alert level one (from two to three households).

The phased approach is needed because of the emergence and spread of the delta variant of the virus across the UK. It will also ensure more people can be protected against coronavirus through vaccination.

We will consider further changes to the regulations on indoor activity later this month, if public health conditions allow. These include introducing the rule of six for meeting indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation; increasing numbers for indoor organised gatherings and indoor events and opening ice skating rinks.

We have set up a fund to support the residential outdoor education sector during these difficult times, with an initial allocation of £2m. It will provide eligible centres across Wales with support to cover essential operating costs between June and September 2021. Full details, including an online expression of interest form, were published on the Business Wales website on 14 May: https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/.