Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his oral contribution of 16 December 2021, Official Report, Column 1137, if he will place in the Library a copy of his correspondence with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in relation to the PCR testing market; and if he will make a statement.

The concerns raised on 16 December 2021 in relation to the PCR testing market have been passed to the Department for Health and Social Care. The Department for Health and Social Care continue to monitor all testing providers listed on gov.uk. Daily checks are undertaken to ensure that providers are meeting minimum standards and providers have been removed where there are repeat offences. The Competition and Markets Authority is also investigating suspected breaches of consumer protection law in the PCR travel test market.

The Government announced on 24 January that from 11 February all eligible fully vaccinated arrivals will face no tests and unvaccinated arrivals will only require a pre-departure test and post-arrival PCR test. This will significantly reduce the cost and complexity for passengers.