JACOB REES-MOGG was yesterday accused of shrugging off concerns about health and safety of parliamentary cleaning and catering staff during the coronavirus outbreak.

SNP MP Alison Thewliss said that the Commons leader has put staff at risk by having MPs return to Parliament.

Mr Rees-Mogg said the cleaners were “coming in anyway,” which Ms Thewliss said was a “dismissive” remark when she later raised a point of order over his comments.

Before MPs returned to Parliament on Tuesday, the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said that there are “significant” risks posed to workers who cannot work from home, such as those in security, cleaning and catering.

PCS said that staff will not be safe from the coronavirus even with social distancing and personal protective equipment.

General secretary Mark Serwotka said that a second spike in Covid-19 infections is a “strong possibility” and that Mr Rees-Mogg needs to reach an agreement with unions on how to proceed.

Tory MP Mr Rees-Mogg also faced calls to resign over his handling of the Commons’ return that saw “shambolic” queues of MPs waiting to vote.

He was challenged by Labour over the long queues of MPs, dubbed the “coronavirus conga,” after arrangements for virtual Parliament – that allowed MPs to contribute from home – were stopped.

MPs wanting to vote are required to queue, keep two metres apart, walk through the Commons chamber and announce their vote.

On Wednesday, Business Secretary Alok Sharma left a Commons debate to have a coronavirus test after being taken ill.

Mr Rees-Mogg said that Labour’s concerns were “overcooked.”

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has granted an application for an emergency debate on the issue for Monday.