Small thread on the procedure cttee yesterday, because I'm a fun guy.

Challenged by MPs on why they were not reducing 2m rule, Clerk of the House John Benger said it was "not appropriate for parliament to set an example which breaches PHE guidance"

Clerk of the House John Benger said the PHE advice was that to make the chamber safe at 1 metre they'd need:
- facemasks
- Perspex screens to go round each MP on 3 sides
- MPs to stay seated for speeches
- no loud speaking

John Benger said these mitigations for the chamber were judged not to be worth it, but we could see Perspex screens introduced to protect members in bill committees

For anyone following the controversy over bill committees, John Benger confirmed that work had been started on convening virtually but Jacob Rees-Mogg was "not anxious to pursue this"

He also acknowledged particular challenges for virtual bill cttees

MPs raised concerns over colleagues not being able to properly distance around the Speaker's chair, and when assembling for votes. Benger confirmed the Speaker "gets emails" (i.e. is inundated) whenever people see MPs getting close to each other

Finally the highlight of yesterday was Christopher Chope repeatedly pressing for an unexpurgated copy of Public Health England advice to Commons management, like it was an intelligence dossier

(Benger had to tell him such a file does not exist)