Reading West MP Alok Sharma’s office has defended visiting a Reading school eight days after a trip to red-listed Bangladesh.

Mr Sharma, who is also President of COP26, returned from a work trip to Bangladesh on June 3 and visited St Michael’s Primary School in Dee Road, Tilehurst on June 11.

The Chronicle was alerted to Mr Sharma’s Bangladesh trip and subsequent school visit by a source, who questioned visiting a school so close to returning from a red-listed country.

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The COP26 President had visited Bangladesh on June 2-3 to discuss climate issues ahead of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, the largest environmental summit in the world.

Normally, after visiting a red list country you must quarantine for ten days in a hotel, at a cost of £1,750 and can only leave once you have received two negative test results, taken on day two and eight.

But ministers conducting essential travel and work as Crown Servants are exempted from quarantine. These exemptions cover both red list and amber list countries.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Helping the world tackle the climate emergency is an international priority for the Government.

“Virtual meetings play a large part, however face to face meetings are key to success in the climate negotiations the UK is leading as hosts of COP26 and are crucial to understanding and seeing first-hand the opportunities and challenges other countries are facing in the fight against climate change.”

 

 

Government travel is arranged in line with official Covid-19 guidance and measures are put in place to ensure social distancing, wearing of facemasks and sanitising is followed strictly on all parts of trips.

A spokesman for St Michael’s said: “While the school was not aware of Mr Sharma’s trip eight days before visiting St Michael’s, we are aware of the strict COVID guidance he must follow while on official business. Mr Sharma tested negative for COVID-19 the day before coming to the school and has tested negative since.

“The school has its own rigorous COVID prevention measures in place and, on arrival, Mr Sharma signed a declaration to say he had not been in contact with anyone with COVID symptoms and was not suffering any symptoms himself. He wore a mask throughout his visit and remained outside. Therefore, there is no cause for concern for parents.”

Covid-19 tests are taken frequently by Mr Sharma and all members of the COP26 delegation and the Reading West MP took a tests on June 10 and 14.

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The COP26 summit will take place in Glasgow in November this year, with delegates travelling from across the globe to meet in-person.

As COP26 President, Mr Sharma is responsible for leading preparations for the conference and chairing the Climate Action Implementation Cabinet Committee to coordinate government action towards net zero by 2050.