Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 require members’ clubs and social clubs to enforce the wearing of masks, while other hospitality venues providing identical activities, such as pubs, are not required to; and why their approach to regulating members’ clubs and social clubs has changed from previous COVID-19-related regulations, under which such clubs were not treated differently to pubs and similar hospitality venues.

In contrast to previous periods when face-coverings were mandated, they are not required in hospitality settings such as cafes, restaurants and pubs as it is impractical to wear a face-covering whilst eating and drinking. While face coverings are required in settings including community centres, youth centres, members’ clubs and social clubs, they are not required in areas where eating and drinking occur.

Social clubs and members’ clubs are diverse in the activities they offer rather than solely for eating and drinking. However, where a social club or members’ club is providing hospitality, there is a specific exemption for those areas within the premises from the requirement to wear face coverings, which provides consistency with the hospitality sector.