New business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has written an open letter to the construction industry telling it it is safe to carry on working and spelling out why sites are remaining open.

His letter comes as concerns about working through this latest lockdown grew in the week since prime minister Boris Johnson announced the restrictions – which include the closure of schools.

Construction was again spared the stay-at-home message but a debate is raging among architects and those in the wider industry about safety, critical worker status and the challenge of working while homeschooling children.

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