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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of permitting socially-distanced outdoor singles tennis games for under 18s to be played during the period of covid-19 restrictions announced in January 2021.

Sports and physical activity providers and facilities are at the heart of our communities, and play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.

The National Restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions. You can currently exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, in a public outdoor place and you should not travel outside your local area. You should maintain social distancing.

On Monday 22 February, the Prime Minister announced a roadmap out of the current lockdown in England. From 8 March, sport can take place in school for all children, or as part of wraparound activities (if children are attending in order to enable their parents to work, seek work, attend education, seek medical care, or attend a support group).

Any organised outdoor sport (for children or adults) can restart on 29 March, and indoor sport for under 18s can restart from Step 2 which will take place no earlier than 12 April. This will be subject to social contact limits.