Lockdown measures will start to be lifted in England on Monday "if we possibly can", the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced during Prime Minister's Questions today, reports the Mirror.
He is expected to set out his so-called road map strategy for easing lockdown measures in England in an address to the nation on Sunday.
And at today's PMQs, Mr Johnson said the government hopes to start introducing the less stringent measures the following day.
It comes after the PM faced stinging criticism from MPs for planning to reveal the new coronavirus measures on TV first, rather than in the House of Commons.
Announcing them on Sunday and implementing them the following day means MPs may not have a chance to ask questions about the measures or scrutinise them further before they take effect.
During PMQs, the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "There are millions of people on furlough, as the Prime Minister knows, millions with children struggling with caring responsibilities.
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"If they are to return to work and if their children are to return to school, they need reassurance, I think we can all feel that, reassurance that it will be safe to do so.
"And that means they do need to know what the government’s plan is for the next stage.”
Mr Johnson replied: "I will, of course, undertake that there will be a statement to the House as you Mr Speaker and the House would properly expect.”
The Prime Minister said the reason he is planning to update the public on Sunday, a day when the Commons is not sitting, is because “we have to be sure that the data is going to support our ability to do this.”
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle then remarked: “And hopefully in the future, it will be to the House first.”
