Matt Hancock pictured breaking face mask rules in ministerial car

He said the Prime Minister “and ministers will be wearing face coverings in line with the guidance”, adding: “On the general point, we set out at the time that we were making face coverings available in all ministerial cars so that ministers would be able to wear them.”

Meanwhile, Number 10 was forced to defend Boris Johnson’s weekend visit to Chequers as they said no regional lockdown rules were broken.

The Prime Minister’s visit to his country estate comes after the latest coronavirus rules were updated to say that people in Tier 2 – which includes Mr Johnson – are advised to reduce the number of journeys they make. They also say a person can also only mix with people in their own household bubble.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The PM’s trip to Chequers this weekend was in line with the guidance for the high local Covid alert levels. The guidance says you can still travel outside of high Covid alert levels, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble.”

However, asked whether staff at Chequers counted as part of Mr Johnson’s household, the spokesman said: “They are at work.” 

The Government’s website says people in Tier 2 “can still go on holiday outside of high alert level areas, but you must only do this with people in your household or support bubble”.