BORIS Johnson has said the Government is looking at introducing stricter rules on wearing face coverings.

He said he plans to be "stricter in insisting people wear face coverings in confined spaces" in an online question and answer session with the public.

He added: “As we get the numbers down in the way that we have and we really stamp out outbreaks in the way that we are, I do think we need to be stricter in insisting people wear face coverings in confined spaces where they are meeting people they don’t normally meet,” he said in an online question and answer session with the public.

“We are looking at ways of making sure that people really do have face coverings in shops, for instance, where there is a risk of transmission.”

It follows Culture minister Caroline Dinenage's appearance on BBC Radio 4's Today programme where she said the decision on whether to make face masks mandatory in shops would be kept under review following the Scottish Government’s new guidance for the retail sector.

When asked whether ministers had considered making face coverings mandatory for shoppers, she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes of course, and they are mandatory on public transport.

“But we have said face coverings in closed spaces is advised but people can use their own discretion – but of course we will keep this under review.

“This is a topic upon which scientists tend to have rather different views so we are looking at it as new scientific studies emerge.”

As of June 22, face coverings have mandatory on all public transport in Scotland.

The rules extend to include the likes of taxis, private hire cabs, buses, trains, the Glasgow subway, Edinburgh trams, planes and enclosed areas on ferries.

Face masks are now also mandatory in Scottish shops.