Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of England’s covid-19 testing capacity in the event of (a) a new variant of covid-19 and (b) an upsurge in hospitalisations.

The Government has retained the ability to enable a rapid testing response should it be needed, such as in the case of a new variant of concern. This includes a stock of lateral flow device tests and the ability to increase capacity in testing laboratories and delivery channels. The details of these contingency arrangements would be determined by the specific circumstances and the risks posed by a variant. The success of the COVID-19 vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments has ensured there is a lower risk of severe illness or hospitalisation in the general population.