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Face masks discounts as government plants start production

Workers at the Port Talbot face mask production site - PA
Workers at the Port Talbot face mask production site - PA

Members of the public will be able to buy discounted face coverings as production at two UK plants finally got underway.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said that suppliers in Port Talbot, Wales, and Blackburn in north west England, had started producing "high quality" face coverings, with another site in Livingston, Scotland, to begin in the coming weeks.

It is part of a £14 million Government drive to increase production of face coverings in the UK to reduce the reliance on overseas producers.

Sources said the UK-made face coverings are likely to be made available to people at the wholesale price to cover the costs of making them.

A worker at the Blackburn face mask production site - PA
A worker at the Blackburn face mask production site - PA

Face coverings are already compulsory on public transport in England and the Government has made it mandatory to wear them in shops and supermarkets from Friday this week to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Government guidance also encourages the wearing of face coverings in enclosed public spaces where it is less easy to socially distance or where people are more likely to come into contact with people they would not normally meet.

A worker at the Blackburn face mask production site - PA
A worker at the Blackburn face mask production site - PA

Mr Gove said: "This is a major step to ensure that this country can meet any increase in demand for face coverings by working with British firms to establish the capability, capacity and skills required to manufacture these items at scale.

"These production lines will be able to get millions of face coverings to the public, without putting any additional pressure on NHS supply chains."

The Cabinet Office said the Government had bought 10 production lines, which include 34 tons of equipment and machinery, while a further 10 have been commissioned from Coventry-based automotive company Expert Tooling and Automation Ltd.

The manufacturers are expected to produce millions of masks a week, it added. The production sites should also ensure that public demand for face coverings does not impact on the supply of higher-grade face masks for NHS frontline staff.