Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of the 17 November 2021 to Question 73901, on Travel; Cyprus, whether her Department has considered putting in place interim measures to enable travellers from Northern Cyprus who are not able to access the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) to travel to the UK during the 2021-22 winter holiday period.
Answered by Wendy Morton
Whilst we are looking at whether there are ways to address the issue of access to UK-accepted certificates for certain people vaccinated in the north of Cyprus, people in this group can still travel to England, but will have to take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and day 8 PCR test and self-isolate for 10 days. Under the Test to Release scheme they can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test on day 5. If the result is negative (and the result of the day 2 test was negative or inconclusive), they can end their quarantine.
Asked by: Andrew Percy (Conservative - Brigg and Goole)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government intends to add the Sputnik V Gamaleya covid-19 vaccine to the approved list of vaccines for the purposes of quarantine free travel to the United Kingdom.
Answered by Maggie Throup
From 22 November, the United Kingdom will recognise vaccines listed on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergency Use Listing for quarantine free travel to the UK. Sputnik V Gamaleya is not currently on the WHO’s Emergency Use List.
We continue to explore the expansion of our inbound vaccination policy to more countries and territories where it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his department has had with the Department for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the diplomatic steps that may be taken to ensure the international recognition of Novavax trial participants to ensure that they are (a) exempt from quarantine and (b) not disadvantaged in comparison to those who have not taken part in the trial.
Answered by Maggie Throup
We have worked very closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and their diplomatic posts in other countries to ensure participants should not have to quarantine and should be treated as fully vaccinated. Discussions are ongoing with other countries, including through groups such as the G7, G20, the European Commission and the World Health Organisation to shape the approach taken around the world to sharing health status for travel, including vaccination status. However, there is currently no internationally agreed policy on clinical trial participants, although we are starting to see movement on this issue.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.
Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption’. The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 September 2021 to Question 51725 on Travel: Quarantine, what is the reason for the differing requirements for quarantine for those people vaccinated in the UK and those vaccinated overseas.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Once within the United Kingdom, domestic self-isolation regulations apply. If an individual who was vaccinated outside of the UK is the contact of a positive case, they are not exempted from self-isolation. This is because there are no means of verifying their vaccination status as it is not recorded by the National Health Service.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will add those African nations being supplied with UK-approved vaccines for covid-19 to the list of countries with approved proof of vaccination for travel to England.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Fully vaccinated arrivals from a number of African countries, including Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa, currently meet the definition of ‘eligible traveller’ and are subject to reduced testing and quarantine requirements.
We are working with international partners to continue the expansion of the policy to other countries and territories in a phased approach, where this meets our certification requirements. The extension of vaccine certification is reviewed regularly.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question
To ask the President of COP26, what steps have been taken to help ensure that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are represented at COP26.
Answered by Michael Ellis
We want a broad range of diverse voices at COP26. This includes Indigenous Peoples, women, people with disabilities, youth, older persons, faith and frontline groups. This is to amplify and learn from those most affected by climate change and to inspire increased climate ambition.
In line with the UK’s commitment to inclusivity, we are determined to ensure Glasgow is as inclusive as possible - despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. Through our diverse programme of events, as well as the efforts we have put into getting delegates to Glasgow, all participants will be able to benefit from the very best in climate leadership. To facilitate participation:
We offered free vaccinations to those from other countries who could not otherwise access them.
We provided free visas to registered attendees with UNFCCC accreditation.
We funded the required Managed Quarantine for delegates coming from ‘red list’ countries.
We also worked with transit countries for Pacific Small Island Development States (SIDs) to identify solutions to overcome barriers to travel.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Attorney General and Solicitor General have not claimed any exemptions from the requirement to quarantine after returning from a red list country as neither Law Officer has undertaken any official business overseas since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many of her Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK, and all travel is arranged in line with official regulations.
Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption’. The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Ben Bradshaw (Labour - Exeter)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many of his Department's ministers have been exempted from quarantine in a hotel after returning to the UK from a covid-19 red list country to which they have travelled for the purposes of conducting official business.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Details of Ministers’ overseas travel are published quarterly on GOV.UK. All travel is arranged in line with official regulations.
Ministers are able to claim an exemption from travel restrictions under the ‘Crown Servants or government contractors exemption.’ The full text of this exemption can be found under the Government guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): jobs that qualify for travel exemptions, available on GOV.UK.