When asked if the rules allowed couples to copulate outdoors, Mr Clarke laughed and said: “It is fair to say the transmission risk of coronavirus is much lower in the open air than in internal space, but obviously we do not encourage people to do anything like that outside at this time or any other.”

In case you missed it, here is our story yesterday on the new rules:

‘Stop the excuses: publish the review’, says Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer has called for the publication of a delayed review into the disproportionate number of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) deaths related to Covid-19 – following accusations it is being held back.

The Labour leader has led criticism that the crucial inquiry – which set a timetable of “initial findings” by the end of May – has been held up, telling ministers: “We need the findings of this review published and action taken now. Stop the excuses: publish the review.”

But the Department for Health and Social Care has insisted a report that the review had been shelved because of fears it will stoke racial tensions, amid outrage over the death of George Floyd was false.

“Ministers received initial findings yesterday,” a spokesperson told The Independent.

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more details here:

Government ‘not encouraging people’ to have sex outdoors, says minister

The government has faced widespread mockery over coronavirus rules which were cast by some in the media as a “sex ban” – but junior minister Simon Clarke has insisted the regulations were aimed at keeping people safe.

Under amendments introduced to the rules on Monday, no person may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place indoors, and consists of two or more persons.

“What this about is making sure we don’t have people staying away from home at night,” British junior housing minister Simon Clarke told LBC radio when questioned about the so called “bonking ban”.

When asked if the rules allowed couples to copulate outdoors, Clarke chuckled and said: “It is fair to say the transmission risk of coronavirus is much lower in the open air than in internal space, but obviously we do not encourage people to do anything like that outside at this time or any other.”

Minister insists 14-day quarantine will go ahead – and denies government playing ‘silly games’ with data

Housing minister Simon Clarke has defended the quarantine plan and said the two-week period for new entrants to the UK will be enforced from 8 June, despite some backbench opposition.

The MP told BBC Breakfast: “This is a temporary, time-limited measure to make sure that we avoid that risk manifesting itself.

“It is very clear that as of Monday June 8 a two-week quarantine is in place for people coming into the UK from abroad and that needs to be understood very clearly.

“It will obviously depend on progress and we all want these restrictions to be lifted as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

The minister also denied the government was “playing silly games” over a lack of data for the number of people tested or traced in the coronavirus response.

One Monday health secretary Matt Hancock said the contact-tracing system was “working well” and was “successful” – but provided no data on the number of people contacted or their contacts then traced.

Clarke said: “Nobody here is playing silly games with data. It’s absolutely about making sure that when we do issue it, it is accurate.”

Former PMs make joint plea for recovery plan

Three former British prime ministers have signed a joint plea by 225 world leaders for a $2.5 trillion (£2 trillion) package of support from the international community for developing countries threatened with health, economic and malnutrition disaster due to coronavirus.

Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Sir John Major are among the eminent roster of ex-presidents, prime ministers and leaders of international institutions calling for an emergency summit of the G20 to agree a global health and economic recovery plan which would “send out a message of hope for the future”.

Former Tory minister wants quarantine scrapped

A Tory backlash appears to be building over the government’s quarantine plan.

Former transport minister Stephen Hammond has continued to call for the plan to quarantine all people arriving from outside the UK for 14 days – set to be introduced from 8 June – to be scrapped.

The Tory MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that air bridges would be a “sensible, targeted response” between low-risk countries.

“I think the idea of air bridges are the right way forward,” he added.

“I think, as we’ve seen across the world, people are taking measures out of the lockdown and this targeted approach would be a much more sensible way to behave.”

It follows remarks by Tory MP Henry Smith, who said: “It really feels like it will bring limited public health benefit for a lot of economic pain.”

‘We’ll look like the stupidest parliament in the world’

There’s a revolt brewing over the government’s insistence that MPs have to vote in person again following recent hybrid arrangements. Seven chairs of committees are demanding that ministers retain remote participation and voting to prevent vulnerable MPs being “disenfranchised”.

Tory MP Robert Halfon, who has cerebral palsy, has accused his own government of effectively “euthanising” vulnerable MPs unable to attend debate.

Labour MP Chris Bryant said the kilometre-long queues expected in the Commons (so social distancing can be maintained) would be “like Alton Towers … we’ll look like the stupidest parliament in the world”.

The government has tabled a motion preventing the resumption of virtual voting that allowed MPs to have their say from afar during the pandemic, but opposition parties are seeking to retain it.

Hancock claims test and trace ‘successful’ – but offers no data

Health secretary Matt Hancock said the contact-tracing system was up and running, “working well” and was “successful” – but provided no data on the number of people contacted or their contacts then traced.

When asked the latest press conference how many of the 9,000 or so infected since the launch had been contacted, Hancock said only he was confident the “vast majority” would have been identified.

There have been reports of problems with the system’s technology and staff saying they were being paid up to £27.75 per hour for doing nothing.

Asked during the daily press briefing why some contact tracers had no work, Hancock said 25,000 had been hired and it was a good thing there were so many.

He said: “It’s successful, I’m very glad to report that those who are asked to isolate by the contact tracers are expressing the willingness to do so and we track that very carefully. The level of incidence of disease has come down and so actually we have more capacity than we need, this is a good thing.

“I think to err on the side of having too many contact tracers is the right side to err on. I’d rather have too many people trained and ready to go.”

Professor John Newton, the government’s testing co-ordinator, said the system was working well, adding: “We do have a lot of capacity.”

But one nurse working as a contact tracer told the PA news agency the necessary systems were “not in place”.

Government considering ‘air bridges’ by the end of the month

Quarantine-free travel between Britain and some countries could be introduced at the end of this month if infection rates at home and abroad are sufficiently low.

The government is understood to be considering so-called “air bridges” to enable people to travel without having to spend two weeks self-isolating on their return.

Current plans mean all international arrivals – apart from people carrying out a limited number of specified roles – would need to quarantine for 14 days from Monday. Further details of the quarantine proposal are expected to be laid before Parliament on Tuesday.

The plan has been fiercely criticised by travel and hospitality businesses, and ministers are understood to be considering introducing air bridges when the policy is reviewed three weeks after it comes into force.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson is “personally in favour” of the idea.

Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that quarantined travellers would be able to go food shopping, change accommodation and use public transport from airports.

But a government source has insisted said people would be expected to stay in one home, use private transport and only venture outside where absolutely necessary.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond, as MPs return to the Commons after the government dropped virtual proceedings – despite concerns that shielding politicians will be unable to attend.

The government has tabled a motion preventing the resumption of virtual voting that allowed MPs to have their say from afar during the pandemic, but opposition parties are seeking to retain it.