Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to ensure that military personnel that are critical for national security are tested for covid-19.

The Ministry of Defence is using a range of measures, including testing, to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 to its personnel and staff.

Defence personnel are included within the national testing programme established by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the National Health Service. Testing has also been incorporated into Defence's wider strategy of risk-reduction measures, collectively minimising the potential risk to personnel operating at home and overseas.

Defence has continued to maintain its critical operational outputs throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, in addition to supporting wider Government, the NHS and Devolved Administrations in their response to COVID-19 and will continue doing so wherever it is required.