Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to subsidise the cost of a private covid-19 PCR test for people on low incomes who are travelling overseas and are required to take a test.

We have no plans to do so. Since the requirements were introduced for international travel testing, the costs have fallen significantly. We are committed to working with the travel industry and private providers to reduce these costs and we have made NHS Test and Trace tests available around the market mid-point to ensure testing is available at an appropriate cost.

Anyone facing significant financial hardship as a result of the requirement to take a day two or day eight test on return from travelling overseas can apply for hardship arrangements, including deferred payment plans. In exceptional circumstances reductions and waivers may be granted.