PRITI Patel has said she does not know the exact number of people coming into the UK with coronavirus.

Speaking to the Commons Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday, she said approximately 50,000 people are entering on a daily basis across all modes of transport but this number has not been updated since March 23, the day the UK went into lockdown.

Committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper asked about the department’s estimates of how many people with coronavirus could be coming into the country.

Patel responded: "Well the estimate, and officials are clear about the estimate on this and the estimate being the only reliable estimate based on their data sets, is 0.5%"

She was interrupted by Cooper who said that figure is from March 23.

“I have just told you the figure that I have been given as the only reliable estimate," Patel replied. "We will ask that to come to you in writing from a government scientific adviser."

Cooper pushed again for an answer on why the figure has not been updated since March 23 and Patel said the Government has "updated figures every day".

"I don’t have a figure of people coming into the country on a daily basis with coronavirus. That figure is held centrally elsewhere in Government with the Department of Health and Public Health England,” she added.

The 14-day self-isolation policy for UK arrivals, bar a handful of exemptions, was introduced on June 8, with breaches punishable by fines of between £100 and £1,000.

It was met with fierce criticism over the impact on the UK’s travel, tourism and hospitality industries.

The figures do not include fines given by Border Force, which has issued three penalties.