MPs attack HSE over factory virus deaths

MPS HAVE criticised a ‘‘toothless’’ regulatory body after the deaths from Covid-19 of three workers at the same Barnsley factory.

One of the three victims has now been identified as Dave Baxter, 55. He and two unnamed colleagues at Cranswick Convenience Foods, in Wombwell, near Barnsley, died in the spring after a Covid-19 outbreak at the site. Eleven workers were diagnosed with the virus and seven were hospitalised. The factory processes bacon products and the cluster has raised further questions after an outbreak at another meat factory, Asda-owned Kober Ltd in Cleckheaton, was confirmed last week, although no fatalities have been linked to it.

Mr Baxter’s MP John Healey, who represents Wentworth and Dearne, and Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock have both now raised concerns over how the Cranswick outbreak was handled after being contacted by workers and their families. Mr Healey has been in touch with Mr Baxter’s partner Leander Lupton following his death on April 19. The couple were from Wath-upon-Dearne and have a son.

He said: “The email from Leander was one of the most distressing I have received in more than 20 years as an MP.

Speaking to her, she is clearly heartbroken yet determined to seek answers for herself, Dave and their son.”

Ms Lupton said her partner was so worried about missing shifts that he even spoke about it as he was being taken to hospital in an ambulance. He last worked on April 1 and was admitted to hospital five days later.

“When he was in the back of the ambulance, he asked me to let them know he wouldn’t be going in – he didn’t want to let them down,” she said.

In a letter to Mr Healey, the Health and Safety Executive say they have received four reports about the Wombwell site as well as concerns about another Cranswick site in Hull, yet the MPs claim that the HSE did not carry out site visits. HSE have been contacted for comment.

Stephanie Peacock said: “It is deeply concerning that the HSE failed to visit Cranswick Foods even though three employees sadly lost their lives and others were seriously ill in hospital after contracting Covid-19.”

In a previous statement, Cranswick said they implemented extra safety measures and staff were offered face visors. The HSE said its investigation was ongoing.

THE EDUCATION Secretary has indicated GCSE and A-level exams could be pushed back next year, as he confirmed he will outline plans next week to fully re-open schools.

Gavin Williamson told the Commons he is consulting with exams regulator Ofqual about pushing exams back next year to give pupils and teachers more time to prepare from them.

During education questions yesterday, he also told MPs the Government will unveil plans next week for the “full return of every single child” to school.

He said: “We’ve given schools extra flexibility to get more children in and we’ve made it clear that next week we’ll be outlining plans for a full return of every single child in every year group back into school.”

Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Elmet and Rothwell, asked whether the 2021 summer exam season could be pushed back from May to July to help students catch up.

Mr Williamson replied: “(Mr Shelbrooke) raises an important point about how do we add more teaching time in and that is why we’ll be consulting with Ofqual about how we can move those exams back giving children extra time in order to be able to learn and really flourish and do incredibly well.”

Earlier, Labour’s shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey challenged the Government on its funding announcement for colleges.

She said: “Now last Thursday evening, the Government issued a press release clearly stating the Government has announced £700 million will be shared across early years, schools and 16-19 providers.”

She added: “However less than an hour later the Government amended the press release, the funding was not for early years and 16-19, it was £650 million, not £700 million, it would not be available until September and now I hear that schools will need to find 25 per cent of tuition funding themselves. So I ask the Secretary, what on Earth happened?” Mr Williamson replied: “The difference between our scheme and (Ms Long-Bailey’s) scheme is that our scheme will deliver results and make a difference.”

He added: “It is going to deliver and close the gap in terms of attainment much more effectively than any of the proposals that the party opposite has done.”

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was his intention that children of all ages in England should be able to return to school on a five-day-a-week basis in September.

The Prime Minister said to “watch this space” when asked whether social distancing restrictions could be reduced from two metres to one metre to help schools in England return in autumn.

Later that day, Mr Williamson told the Downing Street daily briefing that primary school class sizes of 15, known as “bubbles”, could be expanded back to their normal size to allow more children back in the classroom.

We’ll be outlining plans for a return of every child back into school. Gavin Williamson, Education Secretary.