UK coronavirus LIVE: Covid vaccine trial seeks volunteers ‘over 50’ as lockdown to end ‘gradually’ from March

Many working parents fear a confrontation with employers when Covid restrictions are lifted and bosses seek to return to “normal” working conditions, research suggests.

Workers who have juggled home working with looking after children in the past year strongly favour carrying on with hybrid working arrangements, said a report.

A survey of 1,000 parents found that more than two out of five feared losing their jobs when the coronavirus crisis eases.

Worries include the end of furlough schemes, a belief that organisations will cut jobs, and managers demanding greater attendance in offices and other workplaces, the report found.

Nursery provider Bright Horizons said half of those it surveyed complained that employers were unsympathetic or did not offer practical help with childcare needs.

Employers are approaching a “moment of truth” in their relationships with staff as the vaccine rollout continues, and have an opportunity to reassure workers and retain their loyalty, said the report.

Almost one in five of those surveyed said they wanted to work entirely from home in the future, while most respondents favoured a mixture of home and office work.

Many workers still do not feel confident about discussing family issues with their employers despite the huge changes over the past year, with fewer than three in five saying their organisation cares about their work-life balance, said the report.

Fewer than a quarter of those polled said their employers had given a clear message that flexible working was positively viewed.

A separate survey of almost 700 adults suggested most do not want to go back to working in an office full time, with nearly three-quarters saying they want to split their time between home and office working.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) said its study indicated that more people felt working from home was better for their health and wellbeing, despite some feeling less connected to colleagues, taking less exercise and developing musculoskeletal problems.

One in four respondents said they were working from a sofa or a bedroom.

Teletext Holidays is being investigated after hundreds of customers complained they were denied refunds for cancelled trips.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has launched an investigation under consumer protection law.

Some complainants reported they were promised refunds for package holidays by a certain date, which was later pushed back.

CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said: “We understand that the pandemic is presenting challenges for travel businesses, but it is important that the interests of consumers are properly protected and that businesses comply with the law.

“We’ll be engaging with Teletext to establish whether the law has been broken and will take further action if necessary.”

Wimbledon organisers are focusing their efforts on planning for a reduced number of fans to attend this summer’s tournament.

The All England Club is committed to staging the Championships, having cancelled the tournament last year for the first time since the Second World War because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Three scenarios previously announced of a tournament held behind closed doors, one with a full complement of fans and one with a reduced capacity are all still on the table, but the latter is the most likely.

A Wimbledon statement read: “Our aspiration is to stage the best Championships possible – a trusted, best practice, safe event – with the health and safety of all guests, staff and competitors remaining our highest priority.

“With five months remaining until the Championships, we are continuing to develop our detailed scenario planning and work closely with the relevant government and public health authorities to keep abreast of the latest developments in the fight against coronavirus.

“The majority of our planning focus is currently centred on the option of a reduced-capacity Championships and how that would affect each stakeholder group, but we are not yet in a position to rule out any of the other scenarios.”

The PA news agency understands organisers are working on different scenarios for what that capacity could be, depending on the public health situation at the time and the need for social distancing.

The club intends to announce a minimum position in April, with the ability to scale up should conditions improve.

What organisers are keen to avoid is the scenario the French Open found itself in last year when, having sold tickets based on hopes of having 50-60 per cent of full capacity, the tournament was eventually played in front of only 1,000 spectators per day.

It is “sickening” that some people are using the pandemic to commit fraudulent activity, Attorney General Suella Braverman has said.

Conservative MP Nicola Richards (West Bromwich East) said: “Constituents in West Bromwich East have made me aware of some of the latest scams that criminals are using to exploit members of the public at this difficult time. These include text messages about Covid-related grants and criminals even going door to door pretending to sell vaccine doses.

“Could (Ms Braverman) update us on any discussions she has had with the CPS about these specific types of fraud cases?”

Responding, the Attorney General told MPs: “These crimes where Covid is the context for exploitation and fraudulent behaviour are completely sickening. The Director of Public Prosecutions has made it clear in his interim charging protocol that offences related to Covid, including fraud, will be prioritised and these offenders will be prosecuted.”

Fellow Conservative MP Jacob Young (Redcar) added: “In Redcar and Cleveland we have had a number of examples where fraudsters have tried to trick elderly people, in particular, with fake vaccines and scam NHS emails. What more can the Government do to crack down on these types of criminals?”

Ms Braverman replied: “The Government is committed to stopping criminals benefitting from their ill-gotten gains. In 2019/20 the CPS successfully utilised its specialist prosecutors to seize over £100m through confiscation orders across all offence types.”

Around one in 10 major hospital trusts in England had no spare adult critical care beds last week, NHS England figures show.

A total of 15 out of 140 acute trusts reported 100 per cent occupancy of all “open” beds each day from January 25 to 31.

These included University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest trusts in England, along with Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

The figure is down slightly on 18 out of 140 acute trusts that reported 100 per cent occupancy of critical care beds each day from January 18 to 24.

Oliver Dowden said he has spoken with Elton John about support for touring musicians.

SNP MP Owen Thompson (Midlothian) said: “The Government is very keen to blame the EU for the barriers being put in place for touring musicians, but Brexit was born and bred in the UK.

“Does the minister agree that the onus is on this Government to fix the abject failure in statecraft, and can he confirm what urgent steps are being taken to make sure touring musicians do not become yet another collateral damage of Brexit?”

Mr Dowden responded: “Well, first of all I would like to reassure touring musicians and all of those in the creative industry, I know how important the opportunity to tour is for them and it’s something that I discussed just yesterday with Elton John. I’ve discussed it with many others.

“It is a vital part of them building their careers. That is why we have set up this working group with musicians so that we can find ways of supporting them to continue to tour, not just I should say in Europe, but across the whole of the world.

“I think there are huge opportunities for the industry.”

The Culture Secretary has launched a working group looking at overcoming obstacles faced by British performers seeking to tour in EU countries now visa-free travel has ended.

During digital, culture, media and sport questions, former actor and Conservative MP Giles Watling (Clacton) said performers had been hit by a “double-whammy” of visa changes and Covid-19 restrictions.

He added: “There is more, so much we can do to help our cultural offer that isn’t just cash injection. I implore my right honourable friend to push the Government to re-engage with the EU on visa and carnet-free travel for performers, their kit and support teams.

“I know that the EU walked away from our offer but they must be brought back to the table. Touring performers will be left with a double-whammy of an industry devastated by Covid and the loss of an entire continent as a venue.”

Responding for the Government, culture minister Nigel Huddleston said: “The door always remains open should our European friends wish to reconsider our mutually beneficially proposals which would have allowed UK touring professionals to travel more easily but that they rejected.

“In the meantime, where visas apply our agreement with the EU contains measures designed to make the necessary travel processes as smooth as possible.

“A working group has been set up by the Secretary of State to look at any obstacles which might face British performers seeking to tour and we will continue to seek to co-operate with our European friends on this important issue.”

The number of patients waiting longer than an hour to be handed over from ambulance teams to A&E staff at hospitals in England has fallen to its lowest level this winter.

A total of 2,339 delays of more than 60 minutes were recorded across all acute trusts in the seven days to January 31, according to figures published by NHS England.

This compares with 3,283 in the previous week, and 5,513 in the seven days to January 10 – the highest weekly figure so far this winter.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust reported the highest number last week for an individual trust (214 delays of more than 60 minutes), followed by the Royal Wolverhampton Trust (125) and University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust (118).

A handover delay does not always mean a patient has waited in the ambulance. They may have been moved into an A&E department, but staff were not available to complete the handover.

Asked about Switzerland’s decision not to approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, Professor Matthew Snape, who is chief investigator in the Com-Cov study into mixed doses, said the decision lies between AstraZeneca and the Swiss authorities.

Speaking on Times Radio, he said: “The (Oxford/AstraZeneca) vaccines have been licensed in many, many countries around the world now and been given to millions of people.

“We have published in peer-review manuscripts the effectiveness of this vaccine.

“The actual filing of the licensure is with Astra Zeneca, and that is between AstraZeneca and the Swiss authorities, so I can’t really comment on that.

“But the vaccine has been licensed in many countries around the world and is being used as it is.”