Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether there will be an official ban on mass gatherings.

On 23 March, the Prime Minister announced that people will only be allowed to leave their home for the very limited purposes including shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day; any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; and travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.

The Government has been clear that there should be no public gatherings of more than two people.

There are only two exceptions to this rule:

• where the gathering is of a group of people who live together - this means that a parent can, for example, take their children to the shops if there is no option to leave them at home.

• where the gathering is essential for work purposes - but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace.

The Government has also announced that social events, including weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies should not take place. This will exclude funerals, which can be attended by immediate family.