Coronavirus Update

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Tuesday 14th July 2020

(3 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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The implementation of this will be on 24 July to ensure that shops and businesses have time to put this into place and to ensure that the implementation can be done in an orderly way.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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Nothing would make me less likely to go shopping than the thought of having to mask up. Was there consultation with the police force, and particularly the chief constable of Hampshire? For it is she who will have to enforce this monstrous imposition against me and a number of outraged and reluctant constituents.

Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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The need to restrict the spread of the virus while allowing the ancient liberty of a gentleman to go shopping is a difficult balance to strike. We have made the judgment that the best way to strike it is to allow a gentleman to go shopping but require him to wear face mask. Of course, enforcement for the police, but I think enforcement will largely be undertaken by the British people, who have been remarkable in their fortitude, sticking with the rules even while they may be a frustrating imposition.