Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to publish guidance on an approved standard for face coverings for the general public during the covid-19 outbreak.

Our guidance, sets out the requirements for face coverings. They should:

- cover the nose and mouth while allowing comfortable breathing;

- fit comfortably but securely against the side of the face; and

- be made of a comfortable and breathable material, such as cotton and ideally include at least two layers of fabric - the World Health Organization recommends three depending on the fabric used.

We have not set a standard for a face covering to maximise easy access and compliance with the rules. Members of the public may make their own face covering at home, using readily available textiles that can be washed and reused after every use. We have published guidance online on what materials can be used. Alternatively, face coverings can be purchased with guidance available online which can be accessed beforehand to ensure they are safe. We keep our face covering policy under review, guided by the advice of our scientific and medical experts.