Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria his Department used to determine the location of each covid-19 testing centre; what consideration was given to the distance that people might have to travel to reach such centres; and what the average distance is of each of those centres from the nearest town.

The broad geographical locations were selected with the aim of ensuring that as many people as possible live within 45 minutes of a centre by road. The Government aims to be responsive to local need and, where possible, consult with local stakeholders and partners before making decisions.

In determining the specific site where a centre is located, the Government typically works with a number of potential site owners to identify and narrow down sites. The primary concern when considering a site is safety. A number of factors influence that decision – including the size and layout of the site, the period for which it is available, and nearby road links.