Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that Government-approved private providers of covid-19 tests have (a) a published complaints procedure, (b) published minimum standards of service and (c) a compensation scheme for those users who have received inadequate standards of service.

Private testing providers must meet the minimum standards for COVID-19 testing services for international arrivals, including the relevant stage of United Kingdom Accreditation Service process. The minimum standards are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/testing-on-day-2-and-day-8-for-international-arrivals

As individuals are contracting a private service. the Department does not offer compensation. However, we advise any customers to report any issues to the provider. If the issue cannot be resolved, the consumer should to contact their local trading standards office.