The Minister responded by confirming that full data will be published for each country to instil travel confidence, acknowledging the need for clear direction. He also affirmed ongoing work with international partners but did not provide specifics on further meetings or agreements.

The Minister confirmed that data methodology is published on the website but did not specify when more countries will be reviewed. He reiterated the early warning about India despite pressure from the opposition. The list of 30 locations accepting NHS app or letter is available, and all children travelling will now be exempt regardless of their test status. Concerning test costs, he noted that prices have dropped since May with tests as inexpensive as £10. On transatlantic routes, ongoing work continues weekly to overcome technicalities including an executive order from the previous US administration.

Minister Shapps confirmed efforts are being made with the Home Secretary and Border Force to address potential queues. He warned that many checks will occur upstream before travel and that check-in abroad may see issues, though automating systems are being developed for smoother processes.

Acknowledges change in pace due to majority adult vaccination rates, confirms ongoing discussions with previous Health Secretary, states mask-wearing guidance will remain but personal use depends on context. Criticises Scottish Government's policies towards aviation and cites £7 billion support provided by UK Government.

Confirms review date on 31 July, explains current scientific evidence supporting use of PCR tests. Acknowledges importance of up-to-date Foreign Office advice.

Acknowledges delta variant causing third wave, describes UK's exceptional vaccination programme. States £7 billion support provided and outlines plans to enable travel from amber list countries with proper verification.

Acknowledges cost reduction in tests, cites £4.95 as cheapest example seen today. Assures continuous work with scientists and data to minimize testing time while prioritising UK protection.

Of course reciprocity is very important. I have already explained the situation with the United States, and reciprocity would involve it not having Executive Order 212(f) in place, which would immediately relieve some of the issues. They still have 50 different ways to verify tests because there is no central system—each state has its own version. The European example is better as the right hon. Gentleman says. I am working very closely with my European counterparts and in regular contact with them. We wanted to have a first phase in place as quickly as possible—easy to verify through the UK vaccine programme—but we will move as quickly as possible to the next phase, to satisfy his concerns, working with other countries including on the EU digital passport.

It is worth reflecting that this country is leading the way. I was having a look at which other major economies in Europe are going for an unlock as we expect and hope to do on 19 July, subject to confirmation next Monday, and I do not see any other countries that are opening up domestically quite as much. We have many advantages this year that we did not have last year, including easily available testing that is much reduced in price, and vaccination and immunisation that is accessible to all adults. That means that we can move to what will become the new world of aviation. To answer my right hon. Friend’s question, from my conversations with the aviation sector in particular I know that many of them have downsized but are now ready to start upsizing gradually as we come out of what has been the most horrendous couple of years on record for that sector.

The hon. Lady is absolutely right to highlight these cases and fight for her constituents. The figure that is charged at the moment does not make a profit for the Government; it is still being somewhat subsidised in the process. People should not be travelling to red-list countries, and there should be a limit to the number of people who are still abroad wishing to return. If the hon. Lady has individual cases, I am concerned to hear about them. The system is handled by the Department of Health and I would be very happy to pass them on.

The travel industry has stepped up to the plate by and large. People are able to get a guarantee of a refund or a change of date if there is a change in status, and holiday insurance has become quite adept as well. The Government have also tried to assist under the Air Travel Organisers Licensing scheme—ATOL—people can take vouchers effectively Government guaranteed so that people can take them with assurance. That is also helping the travel sector to weigh up its difficulties with cash flow.

I absolutely hear the call for inbound tourism which I have heard from both sides of the House. We are working on that as phase 2; there are some further complications with how to accept different proofs of vaccine, but I absolutely agree with the idea that we should accept vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organisation.

As the hon. Lady knows, the furlough scheme is part of a national scheme. It has supported those in aviation and across the economy. Of course, it is starting to wind down through September which is why today’s announcement is particularly timely: because it gives aviation and travel companies the ability to get going again.

I congratulate my hon. Friend on shoehorning two things into his question: first, 45 minutes since anyone has mentioned coming home, he got it into aviation, and secondly, he mentioned night flights which were not entirely part of my announcement today. I know that Southend airport is very important to his local economy. I will not comment on the night flights position specifically but I was relieved to see that flights will be able to continue there after the operator experienced difficulties recently.

I welcome the hon. Lady’s welcome for the package. I am very, very sorry to hear about the situation that she outlines. Of course everybody in a quarantine hotel should have access to medical assistance. I am not aware of the details but I am happy to help arrange for the correct Minister in the Department of Health and Social Care to meet her to discuss her constituent’s case.

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his campaigning on this subject. He has done a great deal in talking about safety standards and campaigning to get to a situation where we can help to reopen things. He is right to talk about reciprocity. He will be interested to hear that I chaired a meeting of the G7 Transport Secretaries with my equivalents earlier in the year and will do so again later in the year. Our drive is to introduce those international standards, because clearly coronavirus is not going away any time soon and we want to make sure that an internationally recognised system is in place. We are doing our part, since we have been chairing the G7, to make sure that those standards are recognised globally.

First, I do not accept the premise of the hon. Gentleman’s point. We have had one of the most rigorous border check systems in place. When I was in the House only last week, I think that every single speaker in all parts of the House urged an opening up, so I am interested to hear his views. Secondly, the steps in place still require a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day two in order that it can be sequenced, and there is all the other guidance that exists as well.

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for all his work and campaigning on this subject; his constituency is greatly impacted by the success or otherwise of aviation. Yes, we will certainly look at which countries fall into the red, amber and green categories. For the purpose of clarity for the House it is probably helpful to say that the next review will take place on 15 July—so there is not long to wait—and there are then two checkpoints, one on 31 July to look at the system and its operation in total and then on 1 October, which are already in the programme going forward.

I was not familiar with that Republic of Ireland situation, but I undertake to speak to my opposite number—we do speak regularly—and receive an update, and perhaps write a letter to the hon. Gentleman with information to take the case further.

Far be it for me to get between my hon. Friend and the House authorities, but I do have to say it is time for those delegations to be able to return. We have today set out a form of travel where amber can be treated as green and where double vaccination—or I should say full vaccination, because some people will have a single vaccination in the future—plus 14 days provides reason to travel, and I very much hope that that then brings to a conclusion this long-running situation where my hon. Friend and others have not been able to travel to important Council of Europe and other business.

It is important to know that we are in a different phase of this coronavirus now, as never before have we had the majority of our population double vaccinated, and everyone is welcome to come forward—and, indeed, should come forward—if they have not been for their vaccinations yet. The rest of the world is not quite in that situation as yet but will want to get itself to that position. For us, therefore, increasingly the focus is not so much on the specific case rates—after all, we are not vaccinating children yet, and we wait for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to let us know whether it is scientifically proven and advisable to do so—but on hospitalisations and deaths. Other countries will experience the same thing, and there is no reason, as we have seen throughout the coronavirus, to think that one country’s epidemiological situation is different from another’s. We know that while we may have been suffering from the delta variant, other countries, sadly, will be in the future; I hope that they can get themselves vaccinated in time.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right—the airline industry, for example, says that it is looking forward to working with the Government to continue this momentum and further open up markets—and I welcome his welcome for today’s announcement. He is also right to point out that there are some people who, for various reasons—I mentioned in my statement people who have been on a trial, for example—would not qualify under the normal circumstances. The other set of people, of course, are those who are clinically unable to have vaccinations for various reasons. We will bring forward guidance on all these issues.

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right, of course. If the vaccine is recognised by the World Health Organisation, there is no excuse not to recognise it. We are working with our friends and colleagues in the EU and elsewhere, and I am pretty certain that this situation will be resolved.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. I should explain two things. First, FCDO travel advice is about the danger for somebody in a country. Of course, that could be about covid, but it could also be about political unrest or some other natural or other crisis going on in that country, so it is by necessity different from the traffic light system. The traffic light system is interested in the risks posed by that person, having visited that country, on their return to the UK. However, my hon. Friend raises a very important point about the travel advice to people going to amber countries, which at the moment says “don’t” for the purposes of holidays, for example. We will be changing that advice for the 19th to make it clear that people can travel for holidays and other reasons.

The Secretary of State acknowledges the concerns raised and states that he has been working with the aviation industry to ensure flexibility and consumer protection. He agrees to meet with relevant Ministers to discuss the issue further.

The Secretary of State emphasises the importance of individuals getting fully vaccinated to avoid quarantine upon returning from amber list countries. He encourages those who have not yet booked their second vaccination or first dose to do so.

The Secretary of State confirms that fully vaccinated UK residents, including those from Wales, will not have to quarantine upon return to England but notes that it is an announcement specific to England and he expects cooperation with the Welsh Administration.

The Secretary of State confirms that cruises with up to 50% capacity can operate from 19 July if people are double vaccinated but expresses frustration over Scottish ports banning cruise ships despite allowing them in English waters.

The Secretary of State clarifies that countries could remain on the amber list until October but emphasises that changes can occur due to unpredictable virus paths. He also mentions that criteria for country placement are available on gov.uk.

The Secretary of State agrees to write in detail about how the new system works for business travellers. He also points out that the Joint Biosecurity Centre methodology is already published on gov.uk.