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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to paragraph 5.5 of the Government's guidance, Working safely during COVID-19 in shops and branches, last updated on 25 May 2020, what reason it is advised that clothes and shoes that have been handled should be placed in a container or separate room for storage for 72 hours or cleaned prior to be returned for display on the shop floor whereas other products in essential retail stores are not subject to such advice.

The guidance is designed to help employers, workers and the self-employed understand how to work safely, including what employers need to think about to adapt a workplace to manage risk in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

We worked closely with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive to develop this guidance and continue to be guided by the science, so we do not put lives at risk.

We will keep the guidance under review and will consider updating it as circumstances change. We are being led by the science and we will make changes to the guidance when they are needed as determined by the science and as we learn best practices from businesses.