Letter from the Prime Minister to the Chair of the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire




Public health border measures to come into force next week

The rules covering new measures to be imposed at the UK border from next week to protect against coronavirus will be published on 3 June 2020.

The self-isolation measures being introduced from Monday are designed to prevent new cases being brought in from abroad and to prevent a second wave of the virus.

Key measures being introduced include:

  • All arrivals – bar a short list of exemptions – will be required to complete an online locator form to supply contact details, travel details and the address of where they will self-isolate for 14 days. Where international travellers are unable to safely self-isolate in their own accommodation the Government will support them finding appropriate accommodation at their own expense.
  • Passengers arriving in the UK will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and could be contacted regularly throughout this period to ensure compliance. Public Health England will contact people at random to ensure they understand the requirements and are self-isolating. Removal from the country would be considered as a last resort for foreign nationals who refuse to comply with these public health measures.
  • Anyone failing to comply with the mandatory conditions may face enforcement action. A breach of self-isolation would be punishable with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice in England or potential prosecution and unlimited fine.
  • The level of fine could increase if the risk of infection from abroad increases. The Devolved Administrations will set out their own enforcement approaches.
  • Border Force will undertake checks at the border and may refuse entry to any non-resident foreign nationals who refuses to comply with these regulations and isn’t resident in the UK. Failure to complete the form is also punishable by a £100 fixed penalty notice.

The rules do not apply those travelling from within the CTA (Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) – unless they have arrived in the CTA from overseas within the last 14 days, in which case they will have to provide locator details and self-isolate on arrival here. This will help make sure that those who could have come into contact with the virus overseas cannot bypass the self-isolation measures.

Those who have arrived in the CTA longer than 14 days ago will not have to provide locator details or self-isolate if they travel to the UK.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

Protecting the public’s health and avoiding a second peak that overwhelms the NHS will always be our top priority.

As we get the virus under control here, we must manage the risk of cases being imported from abroad. We owe it to the thousands who’ve lost their lives not to throw away our progress.

These measures are informed by science, backed by the public and will keep us all safe.

The new measures will be in place across the United Kingdom from 8 June, although enforcement measures will be set individually by the Devolved Administrations. The measures will be subject to review, to ensure they are in line with the latest scientific evidence and remain effective and necessary. The first review will take place by 29 June.

We will take a number of factors into account within the reviews to satisfy that, in line with scientific advice, the risk of imported cases is suitably low. The factors will include:

  • The rate of infection and transmission internationally and the credibility of the reporting.
  • The measures that international partners have put in place.
  • Levels of imported cases in other countries where there are more relaxed border measures.
  • And the degree to which antibody and other testing methodologies prove effective in minimising the health risk.

We will also continue to take account of the impact on the economy and industry.

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps said:

To get the country and our economy back up and running, we must do everything to avoid a second wave of the virus, because if we get this wrong we will all suffer, and that’s why introducing these measures now is so important.

These measures will be reviewed every few weeks, and we are working with the transport industry to see how we can introduce agreements with other countries when safe to do so, so we can go abroad and tourists can come here.

As the Home Secretary confirmed at her recent press conference, the Government continues to look at other options to increase travel when it is deemed safe to do so. These include arrangements, known as “air bridges” or international travel corridors, which would remove self-isolation measures and safely open up routes to and from countries with low transmission rates.

Agreement would need to be made with individual countries before these measures take effect and the UK would seek assurances that any safe corridors met the needs of both countries.




Ministerial appointments at the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland

News story

Alister Jack has welcomed two new ministerial appointments at the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

David Duguid and Iain Stewart

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said:

It is great news that Iain Stewart and David Duguid have been appointed as UK Government Ministers for Scotland. Talented and experienced, they will both bring a great deal to government at this critical time.

There are huge challenges and great opportunities ahead for Scotland. As we continue to tackle coronavirus and protect the public’s health, start to recover our economy, and look forward to a new relationship with the EU, we will make sure that Scotland’s interests are at the forefront.

I would like to take this opportunity to again thank Douglas Ross for his very valuable contribution in his time as a minister, and to wish him well for the future.

Following his appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, Iain Stewart said:

It is a great honour to have been appointed by the Prime Minister as UK Government Minister for Scotland.

We are facing a global crisis, and the UK Government is working tirelessly to tackle the pandemic in all parts of our country. We have stepped up to help Scottish businesses with financial support, furloughed millions of workers across the country, and supported the Scottish Government with £3.7 billion of extra funding.

As we start to slowly ease the restrictions, our focus must be on continuing to keep our citizens safe. But it must also be on beginning to recover Scotland’s economy, protecting jobs and ensuring our future prosperity.

I look forward to working with the ministerial team at the Scotland Office as part of a UK Government which is delivering for people in Scotland. I am very proud to be given the opportunity to make a contribution at such a vital time for our country.

Following his appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, David Duguid said:

I am honoured to have been appointed as a UK Government minister for Scotland.

My focus will be very much on Scotland’s economy as we get things moving after the coronavirus pandemic. As part of that, I will continue to champion our transformative investment of more than £1.4 billion in Scottish city and growth deals, as we extend their cover to the whole of Scotland.

Looking ahead, we will ensure that our new relationship with the EU works for Scotland, bringing new opportunities for many of our vital industries, including Scotland’s farmers. We will ensure that Scotland’s fishing industry has a bright future as we leave the unfair common fisheries policy and become, once again, an independent coastal state.

Published 2 June 2020




Coronavirus recovery in prisons and probation

In March, temporary restrictions were put in place to minimise movements between jails and reduce face-to-face probation meetings to avoid thousands of offenders and staff becoming infected with the virus. Since then, strong further measures have been implemented, including the early release of low-risk offenders, temporary expansion of the prison estate, and work to reduce the number of those held on remand.

This action has helped to reduce the prison population, allowing jails to implement ‘compartmentalisation’, meaning staff have isolated those prisoners with symptoms, shielded the vulnerable and quarantined new arrivals.

As a result of the success of those measures, which have helped to contain the spread of the virus and limit deaths, consideration can now be given to how these restrictions can be cautiously

Prisons and Probation Minister, Lucy Frazer QC MP, said:

As a result of the strong measures we introduced, lives have been saved and the NHS is being protected from the impact of widespread local outbreaks.

I want to first pay tribute to the hard-working staff across the country who have enabled this to take place. They have been striving tirelessly to make sure those in their care are safe and the public is protected.

The decision to introduce restricted regimes across our jails was not taken lightly, and I want to acknowledge the impact of that.

While safety must remain our paramount concern, the sacrifices of recent months mean we are now in position to consider how to cautiously restart aspects of daily prison life, such as social visits, education and work – with adaptations where necessary to ensure safety.

This cannot happen in a uniform way across all prisons and decisions will take account of individual circumstances. Inevitably this will mean some prisons move faster than others. The national guidance we are publishing today will allow governors to make decisions in a consistent way.

In probation, the restrictions have been necessary for the safety of staff and offenders, while ensuring the public is protected and the monitoring of high-risk offenders remains tough. However, we will now look to resume certain activities, such as gradual increases in office visits, unpaid work and accredited programmes. Like in prisons, this will only happen with appropriate safety measures in place and when local circumstances make it appropriate to do so.

This will not be a straightforward return to normality and local restrictions may need to be re-imposed if outbreaks occur.

We are only able to consider these steps due to the extremely careful handling of the initial phase of the pandemic. This is a direct result of the extraordinary efforts of our staff and the resilience of all those affected.

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service national frameworks can be read on GOV.UK:




Health and Social Care Secretary’s statement on coronavirus (COVID-19): 1 June 2020

Good afternoon and welcome to Downing Street for today’s coronavirus briefing.

We’re going to do things slightly differently today. I’m going to go through the charts. I’m joined by Professor John Newton from the test and trace programme. We’ll then answer questions from the public and from journalists.

If there’s one message that we have today it’s that it is incredibly important for anybody who has symptoms of coronavirus – a cough or a fever or a change in your sense of taste or smell – that you get a test.

It’s by people coming forward to get a test, which you can get on nhs.uk/coronavirus or by dialling 119. It’s by getting those tests that we’re able to identify those who have the virus, ensuring you get the best possible treatment and ensuring that we can then trace the virus and through that we can control the virus.

That is the most important message and what everyone can do to help control this virus.

The first slide shows testing capacity and new cases. Yesterday there were 128,437 tests in the UK, meaning there has been a total 4.48 million tests carried out since the start of this crisis. Of course testing capacity stands at a higher level, 206,444.

This shows there is extra capacity for more tests and tests are available right now on the website if you go to nhs.uk/coronavirus or dial 119. I want to highlight that because it’s so important that people come forward for a test and anyone who needs a test can get a test.

The next chart shows that there are 1,570 cases confirmed as of yesterday. This is the lowest number since 25 March. In total, 276,332 cases have been confirmed. But this number of 1,570 shows that we’ve seen continued downward progress is the number of new confirmed cases.

We’re getting this virus under control, which is why we can make the cautious, small, positive steps we’ve been able to make today. If we look at the number of admissions to hospital with COVID-19, 479. That’s down from a peak of 3,121 on 2 April. The proportion of people on mechanical ventilators, the number which corresponds to that 9% figure, is that there are 606 people on mechanical ventilators. Again, that is the lowest since late March.

The picture is repeated across the country. We’ve seen in almost every case the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 is the lowest since late March. As of yesterday there were 7,541 in hospital with COVID-19.

The final slide. Sadly, 39,045 people have died with coronavirus, confirmed with a positive test. That’s 111 yesterday. Again, that figure is the lowest figure since lockdown began on 23 March.

We can see from these charts the pattern right across the board, which is that we’re making significant progress, but that there is still more to be done.

I want to say a few notes of thanks: thanks to our volunteer responders who in their hundreds of thousands have come forward and stepped up to the plate.

Thanks to the charities and the charity groups who are working so hard in very difficult times.

Thanks to colleagues in the NHS and in social care. Also to the businesses, pharmaceutical companies and diagnostic companies, without whom we simply couldn’t have mounted this response.

To the pharmacists and the dentists, and I’m very pleased that dentistry is going to restart from next week. Especially for their hard work and their understanding, all of the families who stand behind those who are on the frontline.

At the start of pride season, I want to take a moment when we can’t get together as we normally would to thank all colleagues in the LGBT community who do so much in the NHS and across social care.

I think this data shows that the action plan is working. The data shows that we’re winning the battle against coronavirus.

Today, we’re therefore able to make some cautious changes to the lockdown rules, carefully and safely. Of course these are balanced judgements and we take these decisions very carefully.

We must all remember that, in the war against this virus, we are all on the same side. We’ve come so far together, we can take these steps together. But do not step too far. The disease is not done yet. We mustn’t throw away the progress that has been made.

Please take your responsibility seriously. If you have symptoms you must get a test and if the NHS asks you to isolate you must do so.

To everybody, stay alert, control the virus and save lives.