Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to spare capacity for COVID-19 testing being used to facilitate the testing of Parliamentarians, particularly those aged over 70.

The Government is rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity for COVID-19. As our capacity has continued to increase, we have now expanded testing to a wider range of people, including all those over the age of 65 and those unable to work from home where they have symptoms.

However, the advice remains that those over the age of 70 or considered vulnerable should follow the Government’s advice on shielding to reduce their personal risk. Where people are able to work from home they should, and we welcome Parliament’s recent changes to allow Parliamentarians to participate in business remotely.