Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the approach to covid-19 testing outlined in the guidance COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19, whether the Government plans to make free asymptomatic lateral flow tests available to (a) clinically vulnerable people, (b) their friends and relatives, (c) people who provide their care and (d) other close contacts.

From 1 April 2022, free universal access to asymptomatic and symptomatic tests for the public in England will end. We will continue to make testing available for a small number of at-risk groups. Further details on eligible groups will be made available in due course. We will continue to review the impact of these policies on those who are at risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and their contacts.