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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the advice he has received from Public Health England on live sports and covid-19 in relation to (a) participation and (b) spectators.

Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. That’s why we made sure that people could exercise at least once a day even during the height of lockdown - and why we opened up grassroots sport and leisure facilities as soon as it was safe to do so. However, we have always made clear that we will adopt a phased approach to reopening based on scientific and medical advice, with the primary goal of protecting public health. Public Health England agreed our approach to the phased return of recreational sport.

Organised outdoor team sport, outdoor and indoor exercise classes and outdoor licensed physical activity are still exempt from the rule of 6, and can happen in any number. Social interaction before and after playing any sport should be limited and only be in groups up to six.

In terms of spectators, we recognise the news that stadia won’t be reopening from 1 October will be disappointing to many fans and sports, particularly after all the work on test events and preparations. However we have to take difficult decisions that give us the best chance of containing the virus this winter.