Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will (a) investigate and (b) suspend the contracts of private companies that are failing to fulfil their obligations to provide PCR covid-19 tests and results on time to people returning to the UK.

The Department is working closely with private providers to ensure tests and results are delivered on time. Private providers performance is continually monitored including their ability to provide samples, analysis and report results on time. The Department takes rapid action when providers deliver inadequate services. This includes providers receiving a five-day warning to demonstrate they have rectified their service and if they do not, they are removed from the appropriate GOV.UK list.