Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) tackle potential market distortions in the sale of covid-19 lateral flow tests.

The Government is engaging with retailers to support the development of a strong private market for testing. Further information will be made available in due course. We will ensure that private lateral flow device (LFD) testing is appropriately regulated in line with comparable products. Manufacturers and retailers of devices will have autonomy to set pricing for sales of LFDs. It is in the interest of the manufacturers and retailers to set affordable prices so that a private market exists and flourishes.