Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons covid-19 tests carried out by the NHS are not accepted for travel purposes; and whether the Government plans to cap the price of such tests carried out by private companies.

In order to preserve testing capacity for priority uses to protect public health, individuals wishing to travel should book a private test.

While there are no plans to introduce a cap on the price of such tests we are committed to working with the travel industry and private testing providers to reduce the cost of travel testing. NHS Test and Trace tests are available at the market mid-point to ensure tests are available at an appropriate cost and when purchased through private providers for day two and day eight testing, they are accepted for travel purposes. Since requirements were introduced for international travel testing, the costs have fallen significantly. We also offer deferred payment plans and hardship support.