Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of ending the provision of free covid-19 lateral flow device tests for residential care home visitors.

The regular asymptomatic testing regime in adult social care after 1 April 2022 is currently under review and we will set out further details in due course. The review will take account of the impact of COVID-19 policies on people with caring responsibilities, including care home visitors. Until 1 April, testing for visitors to care homes should continue in line with current guidance on testing in care homes.