Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19 Lateral Flow Tests

Tuesday 1 March 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 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial colleagues discussed the living with covid strategy with the devolved Administrations before the announcement on 21 February.
  • The Prime Minister announced that free covid-19 tests will continue until April.
  • The Treasury has not written off any funds given to fraudsters during the pandemic.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alan Brown SNP
NHS
Context

The question arises from discussions about the continuation of free lateral flow tests and their impact on different regions in the UK. It specifically mentions that devolved administrations are involved in these decisions.

Question

What recent discussions has the Minister had with the devolved Administrations on ending free-of-charge covid-19 lateral flow tests?

Answer from Maggie Throup

In advance of the living with covid announcement on 21 February, ministerial colleagues discussed our living with covid strategy with the devolved Administrations. Officials were also in regular touch to understand the approach being taken by each Administration and any implementation issues.

Answered
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Q2 Peter Grant SNP
NHS
Context

The question addresses concerns about the impact on public health if people are required to pay for lateral flow tests. It highlights the benefits of asymptomatic testing and references advice from UK chief medical officers.

Question

What assessment has the Minister made of the likely reduction in the number of daily tests being taken if people have to pay for them, and how does that compare with the advice from all the UK's chief medical officers on the level of background asymptomatic testing?

Answer from Maggie Throup

As the Prime Minister announced last week, free tests will continue until April. He also stated that if the SNP in Scotland wished to continue to offer free tests after that date, it is certainly at liberty to do so. I am proud that, because of the amazing success of the vaccination programme, covid rates are coming down, hospitalisations are coming down and deaths are coming down.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment requested on test reduction and comparison with medical advice was not provided.

How: Covid Success, Vaccination Programme

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Q3 Alan Brown SNP
Economy Taxation Scotland
Context

The question focuses on the fiscal impact of providing free lateral flow tests and suggests that Scotland needs more borrowing powers to manage these expenses.

Question

Scottish taxpayers paid their contribution towards the provision of free lateral flow tests. Now we see the UK Government making a decision that directly affects Scotland because we have a fixed budget. Is it not the case that Scotland needs its own borrowing powers so that it has much more fiscal responsibility and the proper levers of power?

Answer from Maggie Throup

As far as I am aware, and I am pretty sure I am right, the Scottish Government already have tax-raising powers, so perhaps they could use them in this instance.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The need for Scotland to have borrowing powers was not directly addressed.

How: Tax-Raising Powers

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Q4 Martyn Day SNP
NHS Taxation
Context

The question highlights a discrepancy in the allocation of funds, with £5 billion requested for continued testing and £4.3 billion lost to fraud during the pandemic.

Question

The Department of Health and Social Care asked the Treasury for £5 billion to continue testing, which was refused, yet it has been revealed that the UK Treasury has effectively written off £4.3 billion given to fraudsters during the pandemic. Does the Minister think it is wrong to write off losses that have enriched fraudsters while refusing to support the continuation of free testing?

Answer from Maggie Throup

I assure the House that the Treasury has not written off anything.

Not addressed: The comparison between fraud write-offs and testing funding was avoided.

How: Treasury Has Not Written Off Anything

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