Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department took to help ensure supply of lateral flow tests for covid-19 at registered collection sites prior to the publication of his Department's press release entitled Daily rapid testing for COVID-19 contacts launches this week on 12 December 2021.

Each pharmacy is able to order is almost 2,500 tests every week. Increased ordering limits are available as requested by individual pharmacies as well as providing additional stock on a one-off basis.

We continue to work with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and pharmacies to ensure sufficient supplies are maintained to meet increased demand.