Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of private clinics offering covid-19 tests on the supply of testing available through the NHS.

As testing technology has become more widespread, we know that some organisations and individuals are choosing to procure tests outside the NHS Test and Trace service.

The Department and the National Health Service are working with test manufacturers and test providers to ensure the private sector can offer testing services whilst ensuring NHS capacity is protected, so that everyone who needs a test can access one.