Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on introducing charges for lateral flow tests for non-essential workers.

From 1 April 2022, free universal access to symptomatic and asymptomatic lateral flow device testing for the general public in England will end. We will continue to provide free testing to a number of at risk groups. Further information on eligible groups will be available in due course.

Following discussions with a range of potential retailers, we expect that a private market will develop, allowing people who wish to continue testing to do so.