Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the list of businesses allowed to open in phase three of the covid-19 lockdown restrictions; and whether he plans to issue guidance to those companies on being covid-19 secure.

Following scientific evidence and advice, on 10 May, the Prime Minister announced a roadmap for reopening. As part of Step three of the roadmap, the ambition is to open at least some of the remaining businesses and premises that have been required to close, including personal care (such as hairdressers and beauty salons) hospitality (such as food service providers, pubs and accommodation), public places (such as places of worship) and leisure facilities (like cinemas).

They should seek to meet the COVID-19 Secure guidelines provided by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to continue to limit the spread of the virus. Some venues where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may not be able to re-open safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part.

The Government’s current planning assumption is that this step will be no earlier than 4 July, subject to the five tests, and further scientific advice provided closer to the time.