Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are stockpiling COVID-19 tests in advance of any new variant becoming prevalent; and if so, whether they will be in a position to reinstate free tests for the public in such circumstances.

The Government has retained the ability to reinstate widespread COVID-19 testing in the event of a new, serious variant. This includes a stock of lateral flow device tests and increasing testing capacity in laboratories and delivery channels. A decision on how these contingency arrangements would be used and who would be provided with free tests, would be made in view of the circumstances and the risks posed by the variant.