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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing pubs and restaurants to use additional outdoor spaces when re-opening during the covid-19 outbreak to ensure social distancing guidance is adhered to.

On 13 May, five ministerial-led taskforces were set up to develop plans for how closed sectors could reopen safely. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for the Pubs and Restaurants Taskforce, which brought together representatives from the industry.

The taskforce consulted with the sector to develop guidancethat will allow restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen at the earliest point it is considered safe to do so. The guidance, which will cover both indoor and outdoor workspaces, will be published in due course.

As is the case now, individual business owners will be responsible for ensuring their customers adhere to social distancing guidelines wherever possible.