Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to enforce the mandatory wearing of face coverings on public transport.

Since Monday 15 June most passengers must wear a face covering when travelling on public transport in England, unless they are exempt for health, disability or other reasons. We expect to see a gradual ramp-up of enforcement, supported by a significant communications campaign over the coming months.

The regulations made under the Public Health Act 1984 includes powers for operators to deny access to a service, to direct a passenger to wear a face covering, or direct someone to leave a service, if they are not wearing a face covering. Transport operators have discretion over how they use these powers - they are not obliged to use them. If the passenger still doesn’t comply with operators’ encouragement and instructions without a legitimate exemption, there are new powers for the police and Transport for London authorised personnel to issue a fixed penalty notice of £100, or £50 if paid within 14 days.

We have published updated guidance for operators which clearly sets out advice on ensuring passenger compliance with the face covering regulations, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators#face-coverings