Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to provide regular updates on the rules on physical contact for long-term partners living in separate households who do not fit the criteria to form a social bubble; and if he will make a statement.

The Government is keeping its social distancing measures under continual review. If at any time we judge that one of the measures is no longer necessary to protect public health we are required by law to change that measure. The Government have provided updates on the changes to the Regulations through both written and oral statements and will continue to do so for future amendments.

On 23 June, the Prime Minister announced changes to the Regulations which come into effect on 4 July. Included in these changes is that people can meet people from other households in all settings including indoors.

To limit the spread of the virus, the Government is advising that meetings with other households should be limited so that you are only meeting one other household, excluding your support bubble, at a time. We are also advising that social distancing is maintained between those who do not live in the same household or are a part of a support bubble.