Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 15 November (HL3205), how many companies have had their application to be listed as approved providers of COVID-19 PCR tests rejected; and how many approved providers have been subject to review based on complaints.

We do not hold data on the number of providers rejected for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Accreditation is managed by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). Data on the number of providers listed on GOV.UK subject to a review specifically based upon complaints is not held. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) supports private providers by encouraging best practice and improving compliance. The UKHSA conducts regular spot checks to ensure providers have met the conditions for selling COVID-19 tests and are meeting minimum standards.

Where the UKHSA becomes aware that a provider is no longer meeting the minimum standards or that the provider’s activities may risk public safety, it will require the provider to undertake remedial action. The UKHSA may remove a provider’s listing whilst remedial action is being undertaken.