Health News at Your Fingertips

Esther McVey (Con) says it is time to end “this self-isolation madness”.

Williamson says he will remove these restrictions when he can.

Rushanara Ali (Lab) asks why Williamson has not secured the full £15bn for catch-up recommended by Sir Kevan Collins, the former education recovery commissioner.

Williamson says Ali seems unaware of what is being spent by the government.

This is what Gavin Williamson said in his opening statement when he told MPs that he expected “bubbles” in schools – which means pupils have to self-isolate if someone in their bubble tests positive – to go after 19 July. He said:

Some restrictions remain in place in schools. What I want to see is these restrictions including bubbles removed as quickly as possible along with wider restrictions in society.

I do not think it is acceptable that children should face greater restrictions over and above those of wider society especially since they have given up so much to keep older generations safe over the last 18 months.

Further steps will be taken to reduce the number of children who have to self-isolate including looking at the outcomes of a daily contact testing trial as we consider a new model for keeping children in schools and colleges.

We constantly assess all available data and we expect to be able to confirm plans to lift restrictions and bubbles as part of step 4. Once that decision has been made we will issue guidance immediately to schools.

The government is set to implement step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown on 19 July.

Asked to rule out a return to bubbles in school in September, Williamson says he cannot preempt a decision that has not yet been taken, but that he he “very much expecting” that bubbles will have gone by September.

Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) says some pupils still do not have the laptops they need to be able to participate in classes remotely. Will Williamson back her campaign to ensure all pupils eligible for free school meals get this equipment?

Williamson says the government has already invested in this.

Back in the Commons Mark Harper, chair of the Covid Recovery Group, which represents anti-lockdown Tory MPs, asks if pupils will have to carry on testing for good. He says he wants to see pupils return to normality.

Williamson says pupils should not have to do something adults don’t have to do. But testing has played an important role, he says. He says he will take advice on this.

But, in the longer term, he does not want to see testing as something that children have to do always in the future.

Bob Blackman (Con) asks if Williamson agrees regular testing in schools will stop pupils missing classes.

Williamson agrees. Testing has been an important part of getting schools and colleges open, he says.

Barry Sheerman (Lab) accuses Williamson of dither and delay. Parents want certainty, he says. He says the summer holidays should be a chance for pupils to catch up.

Williamson says he has already announced plans to lift the restrictions, including bubbles. But actions have to be properly coordinated across government, he says.

Robert Halfon (Con), chair of the Commons education committee, says we are in danger of creating a generation of “ghost children” – pupils who are absent. He urges Williamson to bring back mobile testing for schools now.

Williamson says there is already extensive testing in schools. He says 57m tests have been carried out in schools and colleges.

Labour’s Kate Green says the government should be acting sooner.

Williamson says the government is still waiting for the results of the trial of the pilots using daily testing as an alternative to self-isolation.

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, says it is vital children stay in school.

Every day he is looking at the need to balance safeguarding education, with controlling the virus.

He has already spoken about this with Sajid Javid, the new health secretary.

He says he wants to see bubbles in schools removed quickly.

Pupils should not be subject to rules that do not apply to other people.

The government will be looking at the results of the trial for using daily tests as an alternative to self-isolation.

He says he expects to be able to confirm plans to lift restrictions and bubbles as part of step 4.

(It is not clear whether bubbles, and the isolation regime associated with it, will go on 19 July, or whether its ending will just be announced then. But many school terms in England will be ending that week anyway.)

UPDATE: See 1.17pm for the full quote.

I will be covering the Gavin Williamson UQ in a moment, and so have not got time for the usual PMQs snap verdict, but here’s my colleague Peter Walker with his own, astute version.

From HuffPost’s Paul Waugh

Ian Paisley (DUP) says the court in Belfast today has ruled that, although the Northern Ireland protocol does not break the law, it does conflict with parts of the Act of Union. Will the PM reverse the mistakes of the protocol, defend the union and put Northern Ireland “out of its commercial, social and political misery”.

Johnson says nothing will affect the position of Northern Ireland as part of the UK.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Lab) says there is a knife crime epidemic in London. Youth services can prevent crime. So why has the government cut 70% of youth services in the past decade?

Johnson says the government invested in youth services, and will continue to do so. He says Ribeiro-Addy has not mentioned Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, who has failed to get a grip. Johnson says he was better when he was mayor.

Peter Gibson (Con) asks about levelling up, and if the PM wants people to vote Conservative in the Batley and Spen byelection.

Johnson says a Tory vote in the byelection will be a vote for a strong local voice for change.

Philippa Whitford (SNP) says cases of the Delta variant are surging across the UK because the PM was late putting India on the red list. Will the government extend full furlough beyond September?

Johnson says he will not. Although the Delta variant is growing around the world, this is the country where protection via immunity is highest.