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Topical question asked in the House of Commons, by Huw Merriman (Conservative). It was answered on Thursday, 28 January 2021 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Topical Questions

Question

I welcome the decision to have evidence-based enhancements to control covid at our international borders, as opposed to a blanket approach. Would the Secretary of State agree with me that a blanket approach could see essential goods and services failing to come into this country from countries where the covid risk is perhaps less than our own, because those delivering are currently enjoying a 10-day stay in the Holiday Inn? Can I ask him, in particular, to ensure that he publishes the criteria for countries that will go on to the red list or come off it, so that the aviation industry in particular has the chance to plan ahead?

Answer

I think my hon. Friend, the Chair of the Transport Committee, is absolutely right. This has required a proportionate and science-based approach

to where people for quarantine in hotels should come from, and that includes a red list of countries. I can tell my hon. Friend and the House that that list is available on gov.UK—it contains 30 countries. South America, South Africa and Portugal are primarily the areas and countries involved. I think it is very important that we do make this science-based, and this adds to the pre-departure testing and, of course, all the other measures we have put in place. We will hear from the hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton (Jim McMahon) shortly, and I know he is going to explain why he called for quarantine to be lessened.

Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
688 c546 
Session
2019-21
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Hotels Quarantine Travel Coronavirus
Link
View this Topical question on hansard.parliament.uk