Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to (a) enable and (b) encourage university students who go home for the Christmas 2020 holiday to get a covid-19 test before they return to university for the following term; and if he will make a statement.

Following the end of term break, our top priority for January will be the welfare of students, staff and the communities around higher education providers. We are looking to utilise mass testing to make the return to higher education as safe as possible, and will provide further guidance in due course, considering future developments and the relevant scientific advice.