SOUTH Swindon MP Robert Buckland expressed doubts over whether all schools would be allowed to reopen on June 1 as the government has planned.

In interviews on BBC Breakfast and the Today programme, Mr Buckland acknowledged safety fears expressed by teachers' unions and suggested that there may be issues that delay the reopening of some schools.

He said: "“I’m not going to sit here and pretend that suddenly on June 1 everything will be uniform – I don’t know.

"I don't think any of us want to put either children or our dedicated teaching staff in any danger at all, and the question of being safe is clearly paramount.

“So, we're all working towards June 1 and planning for that return, but I accept the point that there may well be issues from employers that need to be addressed.

 “I utterly respect and understand the concerns that we are hearing from some parts of the sector.”

Whether there would be enough test-and-tracing to make reopening primary schools possible by June 1 also came under question.

Mr Buckland added: "I think it won't necessarily be as widespread and as full-blown as we would like.

“I think that would develop over the next several weeks, over the next month or so. It's a combination of that app and of the track-and-trace volunteers who are being trained as we speak.”