Children can travel between separated parents during UK lockdown
Michael Gove has cleared up previous confusion
Last updated 24th Mar 2020
Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove caused confusion earlier about the Government's coronavirus restrictions after suggesting children with parents living apart should not travel between them.
Mr Gove was forced to correct his remarks to confirm that children under 18 were permitted to move between their parents' homes.
The official Government guidance states: Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents' homes.''
"We recognise that this may be necessary when children who are under 18 move between separated parents."
But on a TV appearance Mr Gove said children should not move between separated parents.
"No you should not (move),'' he said.
Mr Gove suggested contact with the other parent could be made through social media or other technology and acknowledged the situation was "incredibly difficult''.
"Children should stay in the household that they are currently in, we should not have children moving between households.''
"To confirm - while children should not normally be moving between households, we recognise that this may be necessary when children who are under 18 move between separated parents.
"This is permissible and has been made clear in the guidance.''
It comes after Boris Johnson's message last night putting tighter controls on peoples movements during the crisis.