Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the rate of transmission of covid-19 between (a) people who know each other and (b) people who do not know each other.

Public Health England has not made a comparative assessment. We continue to advise that members of the public continue to wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where they are likely to come into contact with those they do not regularly meet.