Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what scientific evidence they used to underpin their guidance that a person may meet one other person outside their own household in a park at a distance of two metres but that such a meeting may not occur in people’s gardens.

In line with scientific advice, the Government introduced measures to minimise the spread of COVID-19 including social distancing. Over the coming months the Government will carefully consider introducing a range of adjustments so that society can return to normal. However, before doing so, it must be confident that any adjustments do not risk a second peak and that the conditions set out in the recovery strategy are met.

The Government has prioritised enabling contact in public open spaces, which are accessible to everyone and do not require people to enter the homes of other people. The risk of transmission is significantly lower outdoors.

The Government will continue to closely monitor the effect of each adjustment, as set out in Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID 19 Recovery Strategy. A copy of the Strategy is attached.