Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mandatory Vaccine Passports

Thursday 23 September 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial responses indicated that scientific evidence supporting mandatory vaccine passports is available on gov.uk.
  • The Government stated they are keeping vaccine certification as a reserve option for potential public health needs.
  • The Minister mentioned that growing voluntary uptake and latest epidemic data suggest mandatory certification will not be necessary from the end of September.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
NHS
Context

The MP references the Department's Autumn and Winter Plan which discusses mandatory vaccine passports for public health benefits.

Question

With reference to his Department's “COVID-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021”, if his Department will publish scientific evidence in support of the efficacy of mandatory vaccine passports. The Government have had no fewer than 13 different positions on vaccine passports, saying yes three times, no four times, maybe or review six times.

Answer from Nigel Adams

We have published brief summaries of the evidence in the autumn and winter plan available on gov.uk. We are keeping vaccine certification in reserve for potential public health needs but hope it will not be necessary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to publish full scientific evidence requested by questioner

How: We Have Published Brief Summaries Of The Evidence

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Q2 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
NHS
Context

The MP welcomes the Minister's answer on mandatory vaccine passports, referencing previous inconsistent positions taken by the Government.

Question

I welcome the Minister's very full answer. Rather than just asserting that evidence is there, will the Minister commit himself to publishing it? If he is ever going to take his own Back Benchers with him, let alone the general public, the case will have to be made, and the Government have not made it yet.

Answer from Nigel Adams

We have published brief summaries of the evidence in the autumn and winter plan available on gov.uk. We are keeping vaccine certification in reserve for potential public health needs but hope it will not be necessary.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to publish full scientific evidence requested by questioner

How: We Have Published Brief Summaries Of The Evidence

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Q3 William Wragg Con
NHS
Context

The MP welcomes the new ministerial team and inquires about the necessity of mandatory vaccine certification.

Question

May I reiterate to my right hon. Friend—whom I congratulate on his appointment—that vaccine certification is useless now and will no doubt be useless then? We have fresh pairs of eyes in the Department, and fresh perspectives. Can we please just bin it now?

Answer from Nigel Adams

In light of growing voluntary uptake and latest epidemic data, we do not expect mandatory certification to be needed from the end of September.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to discard vaccine certification entirely requested by questioner

How: We Do Not Expect Mandatory Certification To Be Needed

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Q4 John Spellar Lab
NHS Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
Context

The MP evaluates the experience of other countries using vaccine certificates and inquires about Scotland and Wales' approaches.

Question

In his evaluation, has the Minister looked at the experience of a number of European countries where this is happening? Has he looked at the views of Scotland and Wales, which are introducing certificates? Can he assure the House of his view that it must be better to have vaccine passes than once again locking down industries?

Answer from Nigel Adams

We look at how systems are operated elsewhere and work closely with devolved Administrations. Residents of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland can demonstrate vaccination status via a letter requested from the NHS.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Evaluation of experiences in Europe and assurances about vaccine certification's necessity

How: We Look At How Systems Are Operated Elsewhere, Work Closely With Devolved Administrations

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