Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) monitor demand on covid-19 testing stations and (b) increase the testing capacity.

Allocation decisions are frequently and systematically reviewed to ensure we are using our testing where it can be most effective. We are increasing our testing capacity, both through current swab testing and new, rapid lateral flow tests to cut the spread of COVID-19 nationwide.

The United Kingdom’s daily testing capacity passed the 500,000 on 31 October. Testing capacity in the UK across all pillars between 12 November and 18 November was at 4,474,864 tests.

Our mass testing pilot in Liverpool continues and will help inform any future rollout of large-scale population testing. Any confirmed expansion will be announced in due course.