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 make available long-term zero interest loans to people who cannot afford the upfront costs of managed covid-19 hotel quarantine but need to travel to a red list country for the purposes of (a) seeing a terminally ill loved one, (b) attending a funeral and (c) other compassionate grounds to be assessed on a case by case basis; and if he will make a statement.

For those who will suffer severe financial hardship as a result of paying for the full cost of managed quarantine before travel, hardship arrangements may be available if their travel has been for essential purposes. This includes repayment plans, where the cost of managed quarantine is paid for in monthly instalments and in exceptional circumstances, fee reductions or waivers may be granted. Individuals will not be charged interest on repayment plans.