Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects on public health of levels of face coverings worn on public transport.

From 30 November, face coverings are mandatory in shops, on public transport and in transport hubs in England. The UK Health Security Agency has reviewed the latest available evidence on the effectiveness of face coverings, which suggests that face coverings reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

The Scientific Advice Group for Emergencies has also reviewed evidence which shows that the effectiveness of face coverings in reducing transmission is dependent on the proportion and frequency of face covering wearing within the population. The wider and more frequent the use, the more likely it is that an infected person will be wearing a face covering when they are sharing an environment with others.