Lord Balfe

The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy programme is financially supported and managed solely by the Department for International Trade (DIT). The Department meets all travel and subsistence costs associated with the role, as well as any other incidental costs incurred by Trade Envoys to fulfil their duties. All costs incurred are subject to the Department’s guidelines, which apply to the programme’s use of public funds.

Trade Envoys work closely with colleagues in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and HM Trade Commissioners, who provide market and business intelligence and logistical support when visits are made. Trade Envoys are deployed where they can add the most value, which includes supporting Her Majesty’s Government’s wider overseas objectives when appropriate.

When the Jet Zero Council was established in July 2020, we sought to ensure that all relevant parts of the industry were represented, from airlines, airports, and aerospace manufacturers, to NGOs, academics, and start-ups.

To ensure that the Council remains at the forefront of driving zero emission transatlantic flight within a generation, we are currently reviewing the Council’s membership to ensure it reflects the expertise required to deliver this challenge. Though there will always be practical limits to the size of the Council, and we are not able to accommodate all individual requests for membership.

To support the delivery of the Jet Zero Council and allow wider participation in its work, we have established Delivery Groups focussed on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Zero Emission Flight (ZEF), which we encourage organisations with relevant interests to engage with.

It is a matter for each country to decide on appropriate health measures and how Covid-19 tests are provided. We recognise that the cost of tests can be high. The Government is working with the travel industry and private testing providers to see how we can further reduce costs for the British public while ensuring travel is as safe as possible.

The price of tests has reduced significantly in recent weeks, bringing the UK in line with other countries, and some providers are offering testing packages for arrivals countries on the green list starting at £43. The Government is considering a range of options to lower the cost of testing, including cheaper tests being used when passengers return home.

The Government has always been clear that NHS Test and Trace tests should not be used for the purposes of international travel. This is to safeguard testing capacity.

NHS Test and Trace tests may not be used for the Test to Release for International Travel scheme. Travellers must use a test from a private testing provider on the gov.uk private providers list. NHS Test and Trace is not on this list, and for this reason, does not meet the minimum standards required to legally release a traveller from self-isolation upon providing a negative result.

NHS Test and Trace does not provide a result notification in a format that would be acceptable to meet the new pre-departure testing requirements, and as such, will not be accepted for travel to England.

Lateral Flow Tests may meet the minimum standards of more than 80% sensitivity and more than 97% specificity for the pre-departure testing regime, depending on the individual test product. The test must be provided by a testing provider which can meets these minimum standards, as well as the standards regarding the result notification requirements.

When a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision is being made, the clinician should consider the patient’s wishes and every effort should be taken to reach an agreement with the patient or, if they lack capacity, their family or representative. If the patient or their family or representative do not agree with the decision, they should be given time to ask for a second opinion or review. This is in line with the National Health Service guidance for DNACPR decisions.

When a DNACPR decision is made the patient should also be told when it will be reviewed, and this is usually recorded on the DNACPR form. It is recommended that a DNACPR decision is reviewed each time a patient’s situation changes, for example when they leave hospital. If a patient is concerned about a DNACPR decision, they can contact their local Healthwatch to find out about how to get help making a complaint.

We have provided no such advice or direction as general practitioners are independent contractors with no mandatory working hours Therefore, no specific assessment has been made.

Failure to consult people and their families on decisions around CPR causes significant distress and we have taken decisive action to prevent this from happening. NHS England and NHS Improvement clinical leaders issued a number of letters to the health and social care system throughout April and May 2020, and in March 2021, to clarify best practice around do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions.

Joint guidance for clinicians from the British Medical Association, the Resuscitation Council UK and Royal College of Nursing reflects that agreement to a DNACPR is an individual decision and should involve the person concerned or, where the person lacks capacity, their families, carers, guardians or other legally recognised advocates. The Department reiterated this message in the Adult Social Care Winter Plan in 2020.

The DNACPR Ministerial Oversight Group continues to review the resources available to ensure adherence to DNACPR guidance across the system. Sensitive and well communicated DNACPRs can and should be an important part of patient care and end of life experience. We are committed to taking continued action to ensure those decisions are managed and communicated well in all settings.

The first meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Group has now taken place and the Group has set out their commitment to driving forward improvements. A summary of the meeting has been shared with interested stakeholders. The membership, workings and decisions of the Ministerial Oversight Group were published on 23 July.

The Ministerial Oversight Group was created in response to a key recommendation of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) review of how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions were made during the early phases of the pandemic. Further details of the Group’s membership, workings and key decisions will be published in due course.

The Department does not record or assess the circumstances of DNACPRs orders in place. However, the Ministerial Oversight Group will be responsible for the delivery and required changes of the CQC’s recommendations, to ensure adherence to guidance across the system about how DNACPRs are used.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Due to the concerns raised at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic around the application of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions, the Department asked the Care Quality Commission to review how these decisions were made. Their report was published in March. The Department has established a Ministerial Oversight Group that will be responsible for the delivery and required changes of the recommendations of this report, to ensure adherence to guidance across the system on how DNACPRs are used.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Due to the concerns raised at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic around the application of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions, the Department asked the Care Quality Commission to review how these decisions were made. Their report was published in March. The Department has established a Ministerial Oversight Group that will be responsible for the delivery and required changes of the recommendations of this report, to ensure adherence to guidance across the system on how DNACPRs are used.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Due to the concerns raised at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic around the application of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions, the Department asked the Care Quality Commission to review how these decisions were made. Their report was published in March. The Department has established a Ministerial Oversight Group that will be responsible for the delivery and required changes of the recommendations of this report, to ensure adherence to guidance across the system on how DNACPRs are used.

Appointments for a second dose of the vaccine have been brought forward from 12 to eight weeks for those in priority cohorts one to nine who are yet to receive their second dose. This is in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which the Government has accepted.

Pregnant women in priority cohorts one to nine due to age or clinical risk factor can book their second dose eight weeks after their first. Pregnant women in priority cohorts 10 to 12 can book their second dose 12 weeks after their first in line with their overall age cohort.

The National Booking Service operates according to the JCVI’s guidance on first and second doses. Local booking systems used by Primary Care Networks and general practitioner-led services have also been advised to operate according to this advice.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

New analysis of community testing data shows lateral flow device (LFD) tests to have a specificity of at least 99.9%. For every 1,000 LFD tests carried out, there is less than one false positive result. Rapid testing using LFDs detects cases quickly in under 30 minutes, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately, breaking chains of transmission.

The Department is currently making an assessment of National Health Service waiting times in England, including the capacity to return to pre-pandemic levels.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

The term ‘specialty and associate specialist’ refers to doctors employed on a number of different medical contracts. They generally require at least four years full time post-graduate training at least two of which must be in a specialty training programme. This group of staff are employed across all specialties and routinely carry out a range of medical functions appropriate to their level of expertise.

We do not collect data on vacancies for doctors by grade. The pay and contract reform agreement delivers a number of changes which will contribute to the improvement of NHS services - for example, reducing the hours paid at enhanced rates will improve flexible service provision and introducing a new senior grade will enable employers to achieve the best skill mix for multi-disciplinary teams. The total cost of the agreement will depend on the number of doctors opting to transfer to the new contracts. In the first year of operation we expect an average cost of 3% per full time equivalent for those who transfer to the new terms and conditions.

No formal assessment has been made. Offering blood tests has continued throughout the pandemic, with urgent tests being prioritised. However, infection control measures have necessitated changes to the model of delivery in some parts of the country. For some general practitioner practices, their own services will have been able to continue. For other practices, teams may have joined up to create a hub offer to provide extra capacity.

The Department has received an unprecedented number of Written Questions since March 2020. We are working hard to improve our response rate through an iterative written questions recovery plan and performance is now improving at a steady rate. The core Department has increased by a further 400 posts since December 2020, to support the COVID-19 response across all areas.

Since 15 February, NHS Test and Trace has had the capacity to deliver around 750,000 polymerase chain reaction tests every day. According to Passenger Locator Form data, 61,193 individuals opted-in to Test to Release during the week 15 to 21 February. Testing for Test to Release is delivered only by private testing providers that meet a specific set of minimum standards, therefore the number of individuals that choose to opt-in to Test to Release does not impact on NHS Test and Trace’s ability to deliver tests.

NHS Test and Trace tests are not being used for the Test to Release scheme as this is an optional scheme for international arrivals from non ‘red list’ countries to allow them to shorten their isolation period. NHS Test and Trace testing is for people who have symptoms of COVID-19 or who are clinically advised to take a COVID-19 test. Testing for Test to Release must be a polymerase chain reaction test purchased from a private testing provider.

There are no plans to do so. NHS Test and Trace testing is for those with symptoms of COVID-19 or who are clinically advised to take a test and are not to be used for international travel.

NHS Test and Trace testing is not being used for the Test to Release scheme as this is an optional scheme for international arrivals from non ‘red list’ countries to allow them to shorten their isolation period. The private sector has successfully delivered tests for this scheme since its introduction on 15 December 2020.

There are no financial or other arrangements for private providers to be added the list of providers. Any provider may submit a self-declaration stating that their full end-to-end process meets the minimum standards set out in legislation. Following the review of these self-declarations by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the provider may be added to the list of private testing providers, subject to their meeting the minimum standards. This is the first stage of a three-stage assessment process in order to attain full UKAS accreditation.

General practitioners (GPs) are independent contractors who are contracted by NHS England and NHS Improvement and/or clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to provide primary medical services. In designing services contractors are required to take into account the reasonable needs of their local population, including the types of appointments that are offered. NHS England and NHS Improvement are responsible for the provision of primary medical services in England. As such, it is for NHS England and NHS Improvement to ensure that patients in all areas have access to GP services.

On 14 September, NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to GPs and their commissioners reiterating the importance of providing face to face appointments for those who need them and shared a communications toolkit designed to support clear communication with patients about how they can access the right type of appointment.

Local commissioners, NHS England and NHS Improvement regional teams or CCGs with delegated responsibility, are responsible for ensuring general practice providers meet their responsibilities under their contracts.

Prior to the pandemic, the Department employed approximately 1,500 people. In the last eight months that has grown to approximately 2,900 staff in the core Department. The Parliamentary Questions team has doubled in size. We have created and put into action an iterative written questions recovery plan, the objectives of which are to increase the number of questions answered on time, to clear the backlog of overdue questions and to ensure high-quality answers.

Following NHS England and NHS Improvement’s letter to general practitioner practices and clinical commissioning groups of the 31 August 2020, it has been working with the seven NHS England and NHS Improvement regions to investigate and resolve reports of poor face to face provision, patient complaints and poor practice communications on accessing services.

NHS England and NHS Improvement regions are also reviewing local readiness for winter plans that include access to general practice services and provision of face to face appointments, so that any local risks are identified early and addressed.

NHS England and NHS Improvement continue national and regional campaigns to urge the public to come forward with any health concerns and to reassure them that the National Health Service is open.

The Government welcomes the honest and impartial view of senior medical and scientific advisers. Throughout this crisis, they, and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, have provided robust scientific evidence and advice to guide decisions regarding the measures taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has also undertaken significant wider analysis and evaluation to inform decisions. This analysis includes consideration of economic impacts, the level of compliance with measures, amount of enforcement needed and impacts felt by local authorities.

The measures taken have been effective at slowing the virus while balancing the need to protect the economy. Ahead of what will be a challenging winter, the Government will continue to take swift action to combat the spread of the virus.

Prices of branded medicines are controlled through the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access and equivalent statutory scheme. There are no controls on prices of generic medicines. Instead, we rely on competition to drive prices down which has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe. In some instances, where there is no competition, some very large price increases have been observed. The Competition and Markets Authority has a number of live investigations into excessive prices of generic medicines.

The Department also has powers in the National Health Service Act 2006 to control the prices of NHS medicines. Those powers were updated in 2017 in respect of generic medicines and data provision. The Department has been considering proposals for ways to address high prices of generic medicines, on which it expects to consult.

The United Kingdom published its approach to the Future Relationship with the European Union in February 2020. The approach set outs the UK’s commitments to facilitating trade in medicinal products and supporting high levels of patient safety.

After the transition period, we will ensure patients in the UK are not disadvantaged and continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines that are safe. We want patients to be reassured that their safety will be protected through the strongest regulatory framework.

From January 2021, the safety issues that are considered by the European Medicines Agency’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), and the outcomes of the PRAC discussions, which are made publicly available, will be closely monitored and, where appropriate, we will take into account the decisions of the PRAC with regards to safety measures that are implemented for the UK.

Medicines containing ulipristal acetate for the treatment of uterine fibroids were recalled from the United Kingdom market in March 2020 and no woman should have been treated with these medicines since then.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has assessed the data underpinning the European Union Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee's (PRAC) recommendation to revoke the marketing authorisations for ulipristal acetate 5mg for uterine fibroids. Independent advice was sought from the Commission on Human Medicines Expert Advisory Group on Medicines for Women’s Health in May 2020 and UK comments on the EU assessment reports were fed into the EU review.

The EU review for ulipristal acetate 5mg is ongoing pending a final opinion expected in October 2020 from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use on the PRAC’s recommendation, and a decision from the European Commission within three months of the Committee for Medicinal Products Opinion. The MHRA intends to act in accordance with the outcome of the EU review.

No such assessment and no plans have been made. Camcolit (lithium carbonate) is not being discontinued and so work to find a new manufacturer has not been undertaken.

Camcolit 250 tablets - branded lithium 250 milligram (mg) tablets - were discontinued in 2015. The generic list price of lithium carbonate 250 mg tablets manufactured by Essential Pharma has been £87 since 2016. While there are no controls on prices of generic medicines, we rely on competition to drive prices down which has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe. Where we have seen some very large price increases, the Department has brought the issue to the attention of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA is considering the case of lithium pricing.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for licensing of medicines. Its evaluation of a submitted application which meets the necessary standards of quality, safety and efficacy through to determination, would normally be within the statutory time frame of 210 days following receipt of a valid application. This excludes clock-stop periods when time is taken by the applicant to provide further information or generate the necessary data and update their dossier in response to questions raised during the assessment of the application. The MHRA has expedited processes to ensure that marketing authorisation applications are evaluated as rapidly as possible if necessary, to meet a public health need.

The Government has undertaken no specific assessment. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies reviewed a paper on direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on excess deaths and morbidity in July, which provides a scenario-based estimate for additional deaths that may result from the changes necessary to routine care during the first six months of the pandemic. A copy of the paper is attached.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement have published a comprehensive range of online only guides for use by clinical staff and National Health Service managers to support the management of patients.

Clinical guide for the management of emergency department patients during the coronavirus pandemic, published on 17 March, sets out the categories of acute patients to consider for obligatory inpatient emergency admissions, as well as a flowchart for emergency department attendances and key steps in optimising the acute care pathways for all patient groups.

Reference guide for emergency medicine, published on 22 April, includes an algorithm agreed with the British Society of Thoracic Imaging that focuses on disease severity and differentiation from other diseases.

Guidance for the role and use of non-invasive respiratory support in adult patients with COVID19 (confirmed or suspected), published on 6 April, should be used to guide clinicians on the appropriate use of continuous positive airway pressure, non-invasive ventilation, and high flow nasal oxygen in patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. It is designed to provide a useful aid to use alongside clinical judgement and can be adjusted to suit individual clinical environments.

The Government has undertaken no specific assessment. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies reviewed a paper on direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on excess deaths and morbidity in July, which provides a scenario-based estimate for additional deaths that may result from the changes necessary to routine care during the first six months of the pandemic. A copy of the paper is attached.

Cancer is a priority for this Government and survival rates are at a record high. Over the past decade, rates of survival from cancer have increased year-on-year.

In October 2018 the Government announced a package of measures that will be rolled out across the country with the aim of seeing three quarters of all cancers detected at an early stage by 2028 (currently just over half). This is part of the NHS Long Term Plan, which also included commitments on radiotherapy, personalised care interventions and screening, among others.

During the COVID-19 crisis, urgent and essential cancer treatments continued. Some cancer diagnostics and treatments were rescheduled to protect vulnerable patients from having to attend hospitals. These were all clinical decisions made with the patient and the recovery and restoration of cancer services to pre-pandemic levels is well underway.

I have no plans to initiate a discussion on this matter.

We have continued to deliver the most urgent treatments, such as emergency and urgent cancer care, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

With evidence suggesting that we are passing the peak of this wave of COVID-19, and with the National Health Service well-placed to provide world-leading care for those who do still have the virus, we are bringing back non-urgent services that had been temporarily suspended. We will work on the principle that the most urgent treatments, including mental health support, should be brought back first and this will be driven by local demands on the system. The approach will be flexed at local level according to capacity and demand in different parts of the country, and will be gradual, over weeks.

In the absence of face-to-face appointments, primary and secondary care clinicians have been asked to stratify and proactively contact their high-risk patients to educate on specific symptoms and circumstances needing urgent hospital care and ensure appropriate ongoing care plans are delivered.

Doctors will always have the safety of patients at the centre of any decisions they make.

The UK remains concerned about the impact Nord Stream 2 will have on European energy security and particularly on the interests of Ukraine. Our focus continues to be supporting resilient European energy markets, including measures that diversify energy supply.

In 2017, the two Cypriot Leaders, supported by the UN Secretary-General who played an important role, came closer than ever before to reaching a settlement. Unfortunately, this did not prove possible, which led the UN Secretary-General to close the Conference.

A Cyprus Settlement is in the best interests of the Cypriot communities and the wider region. The Foreign Secretary has therefore been actively engaged in support of UN efforts to find a Cyprus solution and will represent the UK as a Guarantor Power at the UN-led informal five-party talks from 27-29 April.

Ahead of talks, the Foreign Secretary spoke to the Cypriot FM on 22 March and the Turkish Foreign Minister on 23 March. The Foreign Secretary visited the island on 4 February and met President Anastasiades, Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar and the UN. The Foreign Secretary also met the Greek Foreign Minister on 2 February. The UK is urging all sides to approach the UN talks in a spirit of flexibility and compromise. During the Minister for the Americas and European Neighbourhood's visit to Cyprus (7-9 April), she reiterated this message and the UK's support for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue.

A Cyprus Settlement remains key to resolving wider tensions in the region. We are supportive of the UN Secretary General's efforts and the proposal of the informal meeting between the parties ("5+UN"). The UK is actively engaging with the parties ahead of the 5+UN meeting to urge them to approach the meeting in the spirit of flexibility and compromise. The Foreign Secretary delivered this message to both the Greek Cypriot leader and the Turkish Cypriot leader during his visit to Cyprus on 4 February, as well as in phone calls with the Turkish Foreign Minister and Greek Foreign Minister.

Talks to reunite Cyprus are led by the Leaders of the two communities on-island and facilitated by the UN. The UK's role as a Guarantor Power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee is unrelated to our membership of the European Union.

The UK remains a strong supporter of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue, based on the internationally accepted model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as set out in relevant Security Council Resolutions. To that end, we welcome the UN Secretary General's ongoing commitment to work with the parties to conduct in-depth consultations and we look forward to the possibility of an informal meeting hosted by the UN which includes the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, and the Guarantor Powers, Greece, Turkey and the UK.

We are engaging all parties regularly. The Foreign Secretary met with Greek Foreign Minister Dendias on 2 February, spoke to Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu on 3 February, and travelled to Cyprus on 4 February, to urge all sides to engage constructively ahead of the talks and to demonstrate flexibility in their approach so the Settlement process can progress.

The UN has responded to the COVID-19 crisis across three pillars: responding to the health crisis, safeguarding lives and livelihoods, and building back better. The UN has adapted and enhanced their programmes across each of these pillars, including their 'Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan' and 'Global Humanitarian Response Plan', which promote a coordinated UN response. UK investment and relationships with the UN - with an additional £145 million to UN appeals including £75 million to the WHO - have galvanised a stronger global response. The UN will continue to be a key ally in our efforts to build back better.

The 194 members of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation agreed to propose 2021 as the International Year of Fruit and Vegetables in July 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Our assessment is that it will help to raise the importance of fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet.

I have consulted the Chair of the Conduct Committee, Lord Mance, who reports that the Committee had an initial discussion on 23 July about the ISC recommendation aimed at the House of Lords. The Committee requested a detailed paper on the rules around members working with foreign governments and the wider question of whether members should be required to disclose the amounts of money that they earn. The Committee will consider the paper in September.

The welfare of British nationals remains our top priority, and we remain committed to ensuring that British travellers around the globe are able to return home. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work with airlines and foreign governments to keep vital routes open. We have now brought back more than 22,500 people on 108 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 22 different countries and territories. We have worked with the following airlines to provide these flights: British Airways, Biman, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, LATAM, PAL, Qatar Airways, Titan, TUI, Virgin Atlantic, Viva, Vueling.

We are aware that there are tens of thousands of British nationals remaining overseas and our effort is focused on supporting their return as quickly and safely as possible. Over the next week we will return thousands more Brits on 10s of charter flights from India, Nigeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Colombia, Guyana, Honduras, Ghana, Pakistan, Nigeria, and New Zealand.

All members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are elected or appointed from the members of their national parliaments. Membership of the political groupings within the Parliamentary Assembly is a matter for the political groups themselves.

Members of the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are independent parliamentarians. Membership of the political groupings within the Parliamentary Assembly is a matter for the political groups themselves.

The Home Office is following guidance published by Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and the NHS with regards to COVID testing for migrant arrivals.

All migrants are tested on arrival with a lateral flow test, any refusing are treated as if infectious and isolated. Lateral flow testing is a fast and simple way to test people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, but who may still be spreading the virus. Arrivals who present as symptomatic or who provide a positive lateral flow test are allocated to an approved quarantine site.

Due to the small possibility of false positives associated with lateral flow tests, any individual who receives a positive result at a residential short-term holding facility in England or an Immigration Removal Centre, will be offered a PRC test to confirm the result. Any detained individual with symptoms of COVID-19, or testing positive for COVID-19 will be placed in protective isolation for at least 10 days and Public Health England informed.

We do not hold information regarding the percentage which have been genomically sequenced as this is the responsibility of Public Health England.

The Home Office is following guidance published by Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and the NHS with regards to COVID testing for migrant arrivals.

All migrants are tested on arrival with a lateral flow test, any refusing are treated as if infectious and isolated. Lateral flow testing is a fast and simple way to test people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, but who may still be spreading the virus. Arrivals who present as symptomatic or who provide a positive lateral flow test are allocated to an approved quarantine site.

Due to the small possibility of false positives associated with lateral flow tests, any individual who receives a positive result at a residential short-term holding facility in England or an Immigration Removal Centre, will be offered a PRC test to confirm the result. Any detained individual with symptoms of COVID-19, or testing positive for COVID-19 will be placed in protective isolation for at least 10 days and Public Health England informed.

We do not hold information regarding the percentage which have been genomically sequenced as this is the responsibility of Public Health England.

Under Part 4 of the Data Protection Act 2018, pertaining to Intelligence services processing, subjects of information held by a UK intelligence service can request this information from the relevant service. Where the data continues to be held, the intelligence services must consider each subject access request on its merits and provide a response accordingly, except where it would be damaging to national security to do so.

The Undercover Policing Inquiry is independent of the Home Office, and its independence is crucial to its effectiveness.

Disclosure is a matter for the Inquiry. Safeguarding the independence of the Inquiry is of paramount importance and it would not generally therefore, be acceptable for the Government to comment on or intervene in the Inquiry’s decision-making.

More information on the Inquiry’s evidence and disclosure process can be found on the Inquiry’s website at Evidence & hearings - UNDERCOVER POLICING INQUIRY (ucpi.org.uk)

Decisions on the deployment of officers and use of police resources is a matter for individual forces. However, we have been working alongside policing partners throughout this emergency to ensure they have the resources required to be able to effectively respond and enforce the COVID measures in place. This work continues and includes consideration of how we could free up more police officers in the future if it is needed. This includes considering the option of using military support to backfill certain non-public facing police roles.