Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the capacity of UK textiles manufacturers to produce face masks on a large scale in the event that the Government requires the general public to wear non-medical face masks during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government are in contact with various UK manufacturers and business representative organisations regarding support to boost the availability of non-surgical face masks.

The Government welcomes efforts by manufacturers who are pivoting their businesses to producing non-surgical face masks.

Additionally, Lord Deighton is leading the national effort to produce essential personal protective equipment for frontline health and social care staff. These efforts will support smaller companies to scale-up their engineering , thereby increasing their contribution to the supply chain.