Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that NHS staff have access to covid-19 lateral flow tests; and if he will make a statement.

National Health Service staff who are asymptomatic should continue to test themselves twice a week, or in line with the Government’s guidance as required. The UK Health Security Agency has provided NHS regions and local authorities with a contingency supply of lateral flow device tests from its prioritised stock for the NHS and social care. Health and social care staff should therefore be able to access testing through their employer. In addition, we are making 400 million tests available via GOV.UK in January which can be delivered directly to staff at home.