Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to undertake a public health campaign on (a) the need to wear face masks (i) on public transport and (ii) in shops and (b) the correct way to wear them.

The Government is running a major proactive communications campaign on face coverings to alert the public where they are now required to wear a face covering, who is exempt from wearing one, and how to wear one correctly. As part of this campaign, we are prioritising the need to communicate who is exempt from wearing one. We are actively engaging with stakeholders including disability charities to communicate new guidance to their members as well as highlighting this message to the general public on social media and via broadcasting opportunities.

The Government is also communicating the key difference between face coverings and medical grade personal protective equipment, highlighting that face coverings protect others, they do not protect the wearer, and so other behaviours, such as social distancing and hand washing, are crucial.