Environment Secretary George Eustice confirmed that pubs with beer gardens are likely to be the first venues in the hospitality sector to reopen.

Asked about those self-employed workers who cannot go back to work, Mr Eustice told Sky News: “The sectors that are going to have the greatest challenge getting back to work, which we recognise, and I’m sure the Chancellor recognises this too – the hospitality sector and some of those other ticketed venues, in particular cinemas and in particular theatres, restaurants and pubs, will also face a challenge getting back in to operation.

“And that is why we won’t be loosening the restrictions on them until at least July and even then it is likely that in the case of pubs and restaurants it will begin with beer gardens and outdoor areas only.”

On Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s aide Dominic Cummings, Mr Eustice added: “I think Dominic Cummings gave a very detailed account of what he did and the judgments he made and why he did what he did on Monday in that very long press conference.

“He acknowledged at the time, look there will be people who will look at the decisions he took and say well was that quite the right thing to do? He might have done differently.

“He acknowledged that and I think really though we just need to move on and I don’t think what happened and what he did and what he explained should affect at all people’s approach to this.”