I have received a number of communications relating to sports and recreational activities – most particularly, golf, gym, tennis and fishing.

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First, I accept entirely that leisure activities are good for mental as well as physical health. I also accept that many venues have modified or adapted their facilities, sometimes at considerable cost, to facilitate social distancing. (That applies, incidentally, too many small retail outlets also).

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That said, the Government faces grim situation: all but those in denial accept that infection and death rates are rising exponentially and that hospitals – including even the `Nightingales` - face the very real prospect of becoming overwhelmed. Arguably the action that the Government is taking could and should have been taken two weeks or even a month earlier. Our task in Parliament now is to protect lives and health, to keep rooves over people`s heads and food on their tables and to save jobs and businesses – including, of course, those in the leisure industries.

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I hope and expect that once the initial measures are in place it will be possible to fine-tune the rules and I and other colleagues will be working towards that. In the meantime, I shall support the Government in the measures that it is proposing initially and I would ask for patience and forbearance while we try to improve upon the package.

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