Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what urgent steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) local authorities, (b) the police and (c) public officials enforcing covid-19 regulations understand that the children’s indoor play sector is permitted to operate under the current covid-19 restrictions; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of enforcement officials failing to understand that the children's indoor sector is entitled to operate in a covid-secure manner under current restrictions on that sector.

The ‘rule of six’ applies in all indoor settings, including the children’s indoor play sector and this clear and consistent approach assists the public and enforcement officials such as the police, local authorities and public health officials to understand the requirements.

We have not made a specific assessment of potential effect of such misunderstandings of the rule of six. However, the Government continues to work closely with local authorities and the police to support effective enforcement. We keep all social distancing restrictions under continuous review.