Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of replacing the two metre social distancing rule with a one metre rule during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government maintains that, wherever possible, two metre social distancing should continue to be adhered to. The Government collaborates closely with Public Health England to ensure guidance on two metre social distancing is kept up to date as the regulations change in light of latest medical and scientific evidence.

In easing the lockdown, the Government accepts that maintaining two metre social distancing may be difficult in certain circumstances and will be issuing updated workplace guidance to address that and, subject to legislation, is mandating the use of face coverings on public transport from 15 June.