Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what accountability and scrutiny measures are in place to ensure that private companies endorsed by the Government to carry out covid-19 PCR testing are supplying customers with tests and test results promptly.

All providers must complete a declaration stating that their testing services meet certain minimum standards. We monitor the performance, including delivery and testing services, of private providers to ensure a high quality service. This includes issues raised by the public, data submitted by the provider and reports from regulatory and oversight bodies where applicable.

Where the UK Health Security Agency becomes aware that a provider is no longer meeting the minimum standards or that its activities may be putting public safety at risk, the provider will be required to undertake remedial action. We reserve the right to remove a provider’s listing from GOV.UK in the interim whilst remedial action is being undertaken.