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Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement this evening on the variant of concern originating in India, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the LGA, said: “As the Prime Minister said at his press conference this evening, the new variant is a worrying development and we all need to play our part in ensuring we limit any further transmission."

“Social care deserves parity of esteem with the NHS and as this report reiterates, action is urgently needed for the care workforce including on pay, conditions, professionalisation, skills and training."

Cllr David Fothergill responds to the Government’s decision to make vaccination a condition of deployment for anyone working in a CQC-registered care home in England for residents requiring nursing or personal care.

"“It is good to see NHS England and NHS Improvement’s inclusive approach to developing the Integrated Care System (ICS) design framework. The LGA has been consulted on the scope, tone and content of the document and many of our concerns have been addressed."

Councillors from across the country and political spectrum have called on the Government to give greater priority to social care and start committing more resources to it now.

"Any efforts to tackle the causes of obesity needs to be part of a whole systems approach, if we are to help the Government meet its target of halving childhood obesity by 2030."

“Any decision on offering a booster jab later this year, to protect our most vulnerable from variants and flu ahead of winter, will be supported by councils and their directors of public health in our collective national effort to end the pandemic."

"Whilst we are all keen to get back to normal as soon as possible, we all still need to remain vigilant and use common sense wherever necessary."

COVID-19’s expected long-term health impact needs to be recognised in future public health and social care planning.

"Councils broadly support the Bill’s focus on improving the health and wellbeing of the population and the duty of bodies to have regard to this in making decisions. We are strongly in favour of the duty to engage with patients, carers and representatives and hope and expect that there will be further guidance to help bring this to fruition."