Question

To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when Parliament plans to introduce a rapid covid-19 testing programme for people working on the parliamentary estate.

Parliament in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Care, has set up a pilot programme for onsite rapid testing, in line with a number of workplaces across the country. The pilot went live on Monday 25 January. Rapid testing is one of a number of useful mitigations that can be used by the House. The most effective measures remain, in line with public health advice, social distancing and the reduction of numbers on site.