Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the covid-19 testing regime in the context of existing levels of infection.

The current testing regime in England focuses on those most at risk from serious outcomes from COVID-19, including those patients who could benefit from antiviral treatments. Universal free testing would not be a cost-effective method for those not at serious risk from the current COVID-19 variants.

The Government continues to keep this response under review to ensure it remains effective and proportionate and that measures are in place in the event of a dangerous new variant.