Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to review the mandatory use of face coverings in shops.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place) (England) Regulations 2020, on the wearing of face coverings in shops, came into force on 24 July 2020. They include a requirement for a review to be undertaken within six months of coming into force. This internal review took place in January and concluded that the Regulations remain necessary, proportionate to protect public health and minimise the spread of COVID-19 and therefore should remain in force. The Principal Regulations will expire after 12 months from the day on which they came into force.
We keep our face covering policy under constant review, guided by the advice of our scientific and medical experts.