Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Competition and Markets Authority report entitled, CMA Rapid Review of PCR testing for travel, published in August 2021, on what date his Department responded to that Report's recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

Due to the evolving nature of this policy, the Department did not issue a written response to the Competitions and Markets Authority’s (CMA) report. However, officials met with the CMA on 27 September 2021 to discuss the Department’s response to the CMA’s recommendations and the proposed changes to international travel testing from polymerase chain reaction testing to lateral flow device testing (LFD). On 23 December 2021, officials met with the CMA in light of the transition to LFD testing and the emerging Omicron variant. A further meeting was held in spring 2022.