Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all the laboratories available for COVID-19 tests are (1) currently, or (2) planning to be, working seven days a week and in shifts covering most of each day.

Since the start of the pandemic, we increased the capacity of National Health Service and Public Health England laboratories, as well as setting up an entirely new nationwide network of new Lighthouse laboratories and partner laboratories to process samples. Lighthouse laboratories and partner laboratories have continued to maximise capacity. This includes recruiting staff, mobilising additional equipment and optimising workflows. All Lighthouse laboratories are now working on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis.