Parliament’s bars exempt from tougher measures

Parliament’s bars will not be subject to coronavirus restrictions despite the implementation of tougher measures on the wider sector last week, the Times reports.

Facilities serving alcohol on the parliamentary estate are understood to be exempt from the 10pm curfew on the basis that they can be categorised as a “workplace canteen”.

According to the latest regulations, so-called workplace canteens “may remain open where there is no practical alternative for staff at that workplace to obtain food”.

Bar staff and customers will not be required to follow stricter face covering rules, and visitors will not be asked to supply their name and number on entry.

Instead, all responsibility will fall to a team that acts as a point of contact for any suspected coronavirus cases among MPs and staff on the estate, although currently MPs are not required to register their presence in parliament, and are only advised to stay away if they have symptoms.

“We continue to follow social distancing and cleaning measures as a Covid-secure workplace in order to reduce the transmission of the disease through social distancing signage, one way systems, socially distanced seating arrangements, contactless payments, marshalling and additional cleaning,” said a spokesperson for the House of Commons.

A number of parliament’s bars are said to have reopened before the summer recess including the Pugin Room, Strangers’ Dining Room, the Adjournment and the Members’ Smoking Room.