Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on the (a) effectiveness and (b) quantity of testing for covid-19 in Wales.

Eligibility for Covid-19 testing in Wales is a devolved matter. The UK Government has regular discussions with the Welsh Government to identify how the effectiveness of testing in Wales can be improved and the quantity increased. The two Governments are working closely and constructively to ensure our approaches are compatible and to minimise any differences cross-border. As of 9.00am on 15 July, the number of tests carried out in Wales was 9,307.9 per 100,000 people. However, testing per 100,000 people in England remains higher at 15,390.7.

In recent weeks, the UK Government has taken measures to increase testing capacity in Wales by opening two new regional testing sites. The sites, in Deeside and in Ebbw Vale, will both use testing equipment provided to them by the UK Government as well as having the tests analysed in UK Government laboratories.

The UK Government is also supporting the increased testing of care home staff and all care homes in Wales are being offered weekly testing for their staff through the UK Government’s social care portal.

The UK Government has also allocated additional funding to the devolved administrations and to local authorities in England to support Test and Trace schemes. The Welsh Government will receive an additional £18 million in support.