Travel: Coronavirus

(asked on 23rd February 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government’s roadmap on easing lockdown restrictions announced on 22 February 2021, whether the Government plans to provide access to cost-effective covid-19 testing for (a) travel operators and (b) their customers in advance of international travel being permitted under the provisions of that roadmap.


Answered by
Robert Courts Portrait
Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
This question was answered on 3rd March 2021

The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19 and is committed to tackling this virus while enabling a sustainable and responsible return to travel.

Travel operators can already benefit from access to rapid asymptomatic workforce testing. DHSC currently provide funding for businesses with more than 50 employees who cannot work from home. This funding has recently been extended to the end of June and covers guidance, training and test kits.

An online portal has also been launched to make it even easier for businesses in the private sector to get involved and find out more about offering rapid testing to their workforce. Organisations who are considering participation should register their interest on the portal before 31 March.

The Government will keep this under review as vaccine deployment continues and will investigate how asymptomatic testing could be used to support the recovery.

Although we understand that some travel is essential, most travel is undertaken by choice. It therefore would not be right to use public money to subsidise testing for travel. However, we expect the cost of tests to decrease in future as testing technology advances and the market expands.

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