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During a tense BBC Breakfast interview on Friday morning, the Foreign Office Minister was grilled regarding Government plans to bring in the new quarantine measures amid fears coronavirus

mutant strains may enter the UK via travellers flying in from virus hotspots. The mandatory quarantine hotels, where people arriving into the UK from one of the Government's 33 red list

countries are expected to isolate, are due to begin to operate from February 15.   However, BBC host Charlie Stayt challenged the Minister on how many hotels have been recruited so far as

part of the new policy. Mr Stayt said: "So just be clear this comes in on the 15 of February and as it stands today as you speak to me, "There are no hotels signed up. "Would

that be fair to say?" JUST IN: STURGEON SHAKES HEAD WHEN 'CONGRATULATED' OVER UK JAB RATE CATCH-UP Mr Cleverly replied: "Well, to be fair the formal announcement only

came out just late last night, very very early this morning. The senior Conservative also took aim at the phrasing of the question, to which Mr Stayt replied: "I have just asked you if

that is true or not." "Well, the point I am making is the announcement only came out at about one minute past midnight this morning,  "It is unsurprising that no one has

formally signed up to this," continued Mr Cleverly. READ MORE: SPAIN HOLIDAYS: EXPRESS READERS TO DITCH BENIDORM HOLIDAYS Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended his hotel quarantine

plan this week which has been devised in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus as a result of new emerging Covid variants. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions this week, the PM said:

“It is not practical to completely close off this country as he seems to be suggesting. “What is practical to do is to have one of the toughest regimes in the world.” The quarantine hotel

scheme is expected to remain in force until at least March 31, with passengers paying up to £800 per person for their stay.