Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Tests: Supply

Tuesday 18 January 2022 · 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 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department has procured over 700 million additional lateral flow tests since December.
  • The UK's daily PCR testing capacity has been expanded significantly.
  • The Government prioritizes purchasing from British suppliers for lateral flow tests.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
NHS
Context

The MP inquired about the government's efforts to increase test supply, citing specific numbers for lateral flow and PCR tests.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of lateral flow and PCR covid-19 tests. The MP noted that over 700 million more lateral flow tests have been procured since December and home delivery capacity is now at over 7 million lateral flow tests every day, while PCR testing capacity has also increased.

Answer from Sajid Javid

We have significantly increased our testing and supply capacity since December, procuring over 700 million more lateral flow tests, ramping up our delivery capacity and expanding the UK's daily PCR capacity. Around 1.7 billion lateral flow tests have been distributed across the UK since the start of the pandemic. Home delivery capacity is now at over 7 million lateral flow tests every day, and we have also recently increased capacity for PCR testing by more than 200,000 tests per day.

Answered
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Q2 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
NHS
Context

The MP questioned the delay in approving British-made lateral flow tests compared to Chinese imports, highlighting a specific case of SureScreen diagnostics where approval took six months.

Question

Why were 30 million British-made lateral flow tests sitting in a warehouse waiting for approval while Chinese tests were given temporary approval? It took six months to give approval to SureScreen diagnostics: when will the Government support British test manufacturers and end the preference for imports from China?

Answer from Sajid Javid

I can give the hon. Gentleman an answer, and I am very happy to do so. He will know that whenever we try to procure tests, in this case lateral flow tests, we should always try to buy British first, and we do buy from SureScreen—it is a fantastic supplier. But he will also know that we can only, rightly, buy lateral flow tests once they have been approved by our independent medical regulator.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Explanation for why delays occurred and commitment to end preference for imports was not provided.

How: I Can Give The Hon. Gentleman An Answer, And I Am Very Happy To Do So.

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Q3 David Duguid Con
NHS Scotland
Context

The MP inquired about the advantages of a UK-wide approach to the testing programme.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that access to the largest testing programme in Europe is just one example of the advantages to the people of Scotland when we adopt a UK-wide approach to shared challenges?

Answer from Sajid Javid

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend about a unified approach to shared challenges such as covid-19, and that unified approach being the best way forward. Across the UK, we have built the largest diagnostic network in British history and our testing programme has been one of the most important lines of defence, alongside our UK-wide vaccination programme. Our procurement of tests, antivirals and vaccines has been another fantastic example of the strength of the Union.

Answered
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Q4 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
Science & Technology
Context

The MP questioned the Government's procurement policy regarding lateral flow tests, alleging that UK manufacturing plans were shelved due to fears of accusations of improper deals.

Question

Can he now say to the House that that was not the case and that he was not running scared of a transparent procurement policy, and that he will now do all he can to turbocharge British manufacturing and get British lateral flow tests in the system?

Answer from Sajid Javid

First, I think the hon. Gentleman accused me of doing something inappropriate, and I think that that is not appropriate, unless he has something else to say or some evidence, but it is true to form for the Labour Front Bench, which just constantly makes things up to make false points. When it comes to testing, as he has just heard me say, we have purchased 1.7 billion lateral flow tests since the start of the pandemic. Wherever possible, whether it is PCR testing or lateral flow testing, whenever tests are approved by our independent regulator, we buy British.

Not addressed: Accusation denial and deflection from the question about supporting British manufacturing.

How: First, I Think The Hon. Gentleman Accused Me Of Doing Something Inappropriate, But It Is True To Form For The Labour Front Bench

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