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Away from the questioning in Westminster, the body coordinating the police response to the UK pandemic has said there are “no plans” to review lockdown fines issued to people who claimed they were travelling for childcare.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said there was “no set process” for appealing penalty notices that had already been paid.

But the organisation added that if anyone believed they’d been given a fine in error they could challenge it in court.

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised to "look at" such fines during yesterday's government briefing.

And that follows the PM's adviser Dominic Cummings' decision to drive from London to County Durham with his wife and child during lockdown.

Clark now asks if it will be compulsory for someone to stay at home if they have come into contact with an infected person, under the new test-and-trace system.

Boris Johnson says staying at home in that situation would be good "not just for them but also good for the population".

Clark repeats his question.

"We wanted to make it clear that people must stay at home," the PM says.

Will it be the law or just advice, Clark wants to know.

"We will be asking people to stay at home - if they don't follow that advice, we will consider what sanctions may be necessary," says Johnson.

"By the police?"

"Whatever is appropriate," says the PM.

Science and Technology chair Greg Clark asks why the UK has a policy of recommending two-metre distancing while the WHO recommends one-metre.

Boris Johnson says the advice from scientific advisers on the Sage group says there remains a considerable reduction in risk at two metres.

Clark asks if he would consider reducing it soon to allow shops and workplaces to function.

The PM says he hopes to reduce that distance in the future.

Tory MP Simon Hoare comes back in to say Cummings is now a "distraction" and he doesn't understand why he is so "pivotal" to Johnson.

The PM says he has "made that point several times".

He adds that he does understand people's feelings and why there is "such indignation about the pain of the whole business of lockdown".

But Johnson says the public wants politicians to "focus on them and their needs rather than a political ding dong".

Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent

No surprises that Simon Hoare is critical over the Dominic Cummings saga.

The Conservative MP has already said that the chief aide should go.

A running theme in the prime minister’s overall response here is that he thinks it’s time to move on and that the government’s time is pretty tied up with other things (namely, dealing with the virus).

The problem is that his critics say that what has happened, regarding his chief aide, could directly impact how the public responds to the evolving lockdown rules.

But the PM rejects suggestions that people are now more likely to flout them.

Home Affairs Committee chair Yvette Cooper asks the PM for his advice to parents who may have the virus but need childcare, given the recent controversy over Mr Cummings in the last few days.

Boris Johnson says the clear advice is to stay at home and adds "if you have exceptional problems that may cause you to vary your arrangements".

Yvette Cooper continues to repeat her question while Mr Johnson insists "you would have to look at each individual case".

"The reason you are not giving a straight answer is because you are trying to protect Dominic Cummings and you don't want to apologise for him," says Ms Cooper.

The PM says it is no wonder the public "feel confused" when politicians are "bickering".

Northern Ireland Committee chair Simon Hoare suggests that the British people will be "far less energetic" about following lockdown as a result of Dominic Cummings' actions.

Boris Johnson argues that isn't true and praises the British people for responding "with fantastic responsibility".

He says continuing to follow rules will be "absolutely vital" as the UK moves into the next stage - and adds that the government will be making a decision on that tomorrow.

Labour's Meg Hillier asks the PM about whether he had seen the evidence about so-called "false" allegations by the media on Dominic Cummings.

The PM says: "I don't want to go into much more than I said..."

But Ms Hillier pushes again, saying it is a "simple yes or no question".

After Johnson says he has seen the evidence, she asks if it should be published or handed to the cabinet secretary.

Johnson says: "I would not be doing my job if I were now to shuffle this problem into the hands of officials... who are working flat out to deal with coronavirus.

"I know there is a great political interest in this and I totally understand the public indignation, but... I have said what I have said about the whole business and it would be much better if we could move on."

Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent

The SNP’s Pete Wishart went in with both barrels, claiming that Boris Johnson - by "standing by his man" – has "united a nation in condemnation and indignation".

He warns that the saga has undermined the public health message, stating: "No man is more important than keeping this nation safe.”

But, as expected, the PM shows no sign of suddenly giving in and again insists that a lot of what’s been said about Dominic Cummings is “false".

He suggests too that there’s some political point-scoring in play.

Mr Johnson also strongly indicates there are no plans for a public inquiry, saying he doesn’t think it would be a good use of officials’ time right now.

Next up is Tory MP Stephen Crabb who asks about the collaboration between the four nations during the crisis.

He says the PM has talked about the "national effort", but asks how "frustrating" it is that we haven't been able to act under a joined-up strategy.

Boris Johnson says there has been "fantastic cooperation between all four nations" and that the "differences are very marginal" between strategies.

He says it is "very important when there are slight differences" that there should be "slightly different approaches and that is what we have seen".

But asked about criticism from the Scottish government, the PM says: "It always suits those who have a separatist agenda to break up the UK to play up differences when perhaps the unity has been must more conspicuous than you might find."

Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent

Straight in there from the Liaison Committee chair, Bernard Jenkin, trying to get Boris Johnson to commit to coming back to appear before them before long.

Boris Johnson has been accused of avoiding the panel of senior MPs.

No commitment, though, from the prime minister, who says his time is scarce and asks can he "get back to them?".

So, Mr Jenkin tried to secure a commitment – adding that he wanted to send a “strong message”.

The message may have been received but it is not clear that it’s had the desired effect.

Mr Wishart keeps going on the issue of Dominic Cummings, despite the PM's insistence that it is time to move on.

He says anger is reaching "fever pitch" and urges the PM to let his adviser go.

Boris Johnson reiterates that Mr Wishart is making a political point.

SNP MP Pete Wishart now takes over the questioning. He tells the PM he has been "brave to sacrifice credibility and popularity of the government just to stand by your man".

He suggests the public are less likely to follow the rules, adding "surely no man is more important than keeping this nation safe".

Boris Johnson replies that "a lot of what was written was false" and suggests Mr Wishart is making "party political points".

He adds that he disagrees the government's messaging has been undermined and says it is "time to move on".

Asked why he has not launched an inquiry into the issue, Johnson says: "Quite frankly, I am not certain right now that an inquiry into that matter is an efficient use of time".

Sir Bernard Jenkin says it is very unusual for an adviser to hold a press conference in the gardens of Downing Street.

But Mr Johnson says: "I thought it would be a very good thing if people could understand what I had understood myself about what took place.

"And there you go, we had a long go at it and look, it has been a very frustrating episode and I understand why people have been so concerned.

"The country is going through a horrendously difficult time.

"What we need to do is focus on getting the message right then... move on and to get on with how we are going to sort out coronavirus."

Sir Bernard says the committee is "extremely concerned" about the issue of Dominic Cummings and asks if it has undermined the moral authority of the government.

Boris Johnson says he is "of course deeply sorry for all the hurt and pain and anxiety that people have been going through through this period".

He says: "I feel that my adviser has had quite a lot of autobiography recently. I have commented on it, people know my views, I don't propose to add to it.

"The public want us to focus on, as far as politicians possibly can, on uniting our message and focusing on their needs."

The first question to Boris Johnson comes from Bernard Jenkin, saying it has been 12 months since a prime minister has appeared before the committee.

He asks Johnson to commit to attending regularly, including before the Commons breaks for the summer.

The PM says the committee is "very kind to want to see me again and more frequently".

But he adds: "Can I possibly get back to you on that, there is a lot on at the moment."

Committee chair Sir Bernard Jenkin welcomes Boris Johnson who is appearing at the committee via video link.

He says the committee will focus on the coronavirus crisis but that there remain other policy areas, including Brexit, which require scrutiny.

And we're under way.

The Liaison Committee's questioning of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson should begin in just a few minutes.

We expect much of the focus to be on the coronavirus pandemic.

There are likely to be questions on plans to re-open schools in England next week, troubles with personal protective equipment in the health sector, the government's target to have capacity for 200,000 tests by the end of the week, and its plans for tracing those who test positive.

But there are also sure to be questions on the actions of the PM's chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, and his 260-mile trip from London to Durham during lockdown, which has led to calls from around 40 Tory MPs for the aide to resign or be fired.

While we wait for the questioning to start, take a look at our timeline of what happened and why it is causing such controversy.

Image source, AFP

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The coronavirus pandemic has damaged economies and caused a surge in unemployment around the world - with younger workers disproportionately affected, a UN agency warns.

A report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) says more than one in six people aged under 29 have stopped working since the start of the health crisis, with young women hardest hit.

Covid-19, it says, could impact on the career opportunities of the "lockdown generation" for decades to come.

"People will be permanently scarred by the immediate effects of the pandemic," says the head of the ILO, Guy Ryder.

While the virus is currently responsible for more than 350,000 confirmed deaths worldwide, it is also destroying jobs, disrupting education and creating obstacles for those seeking to enter the labour market, the ILO says.

The agency is calling for urgent, large-scale programmes to support young people.

Just 15 minutes until the Liaison Committee begins and the UK PM begins facing questions.

But who is on the Liaison Committee? How long has it been scrutinising prime ministers? And what challenges could it pose for Boris Johnson?

Read our guide from BBC parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy here.

Image source, UK Parliament