Coronavirus: Disease Control

(asked on 27th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the (a) Head of the NHS Test and Trace programme and (b) Government's scientific advisers with expertise on behavioural science on the reasons that people with covid-19 symptoms do not come forward for a covid-19 test; what assessment he has made of the effect of the (i) amount of and (ii) accessibility of Government financial support for people on low incomes to self-isolate on the numbers of people with covid-19 symptoms coming forward for a covid-19 test; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Helen Whately Portrait
Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 29th March 2021

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regularly discusses a range of issues relating to COVID-19 with NHS Test and Trace and scientific advisers.

The objective of the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme is to support people on low incomes to self-isolate when they test positive for COVID-19 or are identified as a recent contact of someone who has tested positive and to encourage more people to get tested.

While no specific assessment has been made of the amount and accessibility of such support, we are working closely with all 314 local authorities in England to monitor and assess its effectiveness.

Reticulating Splines