PUBS in the Westminster Parliament are exempt from strict coronavirus safety rules, it has been revealed.
Bars on the parliamentary estate do not have to comply with the 10pm curfew, nor requirements to gather contact details of customers.
As reported by the Times, staff and customers are also exempt from stringent guidelines on face coverings, which have been applied to other licensed premises.
READ MORE: UK Parliament U-turns on 10pm curfew exemption for Westminster pubs
The Westminster facilities have been granted special status on the basis that they are “a workplace canteen”.
Updated UK Government rules state that “workplace canteens may remain open where there is no practical alternative for staff at that workplace to obtain food”.
It means visitors to parliamentary bars will not have to give their name and number, with parliamentary staff expected to be the point of contact for any suspected or confirmed coronavirus cases among workers or MPs.
Parliamentarians do not have to register their attendance on the estate and are only to avoid the area if they have Covid symptoms.
The House of Commons have vowed to keep the guidelines under review, but one parliamentary source told the Times the exemptions are “a massive own goal”.
Trade unions are expected to complain that the lax rules put staff at risk.
The House of Commons confirmed the bars are exempt from the Government’s own regulations. A spokeswoman said: “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.”
SNP MP Ronnie Cowan commented: "One rule for the public and another for Westminster (sounds familiar)."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel