Recommendations & Conclusions
17 items
1
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
It is clear that the idea of certificates has been under consideration within government for at least six months. Ministers and officials have given conflicting statements on the possibility of certification being introduced as a measure, and on the extent to which proposals were actively under review. At times, these …
Government response. The Government has committed to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny ahead of the wider application of certification. The approach to any legislation that may be required will be set out in due course.
2
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
It is imperative that if a Covid-status certification system is to be introduced, the Government publishes the criteria against which the efficacy of that system is to be assessed, together with a clear statement and explanation of whether or not the Government believes that the system being deployed satisfies those …
Government response. The Government recognises the need to ensure that the impact of any public health interventions are measured and assessed. In relation to certification, the COVID-Status Certification Review: Report publication set out that the Government believes that certification would have a …
3
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
It is also essential that a cost-benefit analysis is carried out and made public alongside any announcement regarding the introduction of a Covid-status certification. Such a cost-benefit analysis should include not only financial but also social and societal costs and benefits.
Government response. The Government reviewed the cost and benefits of COVID-status certification as part of the certification review. The COVID-Status Certification Review: Report sets out findings of the review across a number of areas, including public health considerations, business considerations, and ethics …
4
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
It is highly regrettable that the Government has not, despite committing to do so, provided the Committee with likely financial costs to the public purse or to businesses and individuals of different models of Covid-status certification. Full costings must be provided alongside any announcement in regards to Covid-status certification.
Government response. The cost of certification will differ depending on the final model used for certification. wider introduction. COVID-status certification has been trialled in all three phases of the ERP, with Phase I using testing protocols only (demonstration of a negative lateral …
5
Recommendation
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
We recognise that conducting detailed modelling, especially with so many unknown variables and uncertainties, is difficult and imprecise. Nonetheless, we believe that it is the best guide to the potential impacts of the range of different scenarios that cannot necessarily be directly tested. We expect all such modelling to be …
Government response. Per the Terms of Reference for the certification review, published on GOV.UK, the Government reviewed different models of certification, including different methods of conferring COVID status, and the mechanisms by which COVID status can be demonstrated, including technological and non-technological …
6
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
Given the large number of areas where the Government was unable to provide the Committee with information and answers in regards to: criteria against which the Covid-Status Certification 31 efficacy of that system is to be assessed; the cost-benefit analysis proposals; modelling of different scenarios with and without a certificate …
Government response. The COVID-Status Certification Review: Report publication sets out that the Government believes that certification would provide a public health benefit. It is therefore right that the Government has made the NHS COVID Pass available, through the NHS app, NHS. uk …
7
Recommendation
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
The Committee is very encouraged by the evidence we heard both from our expert witness and from the Government as regards vaccine efficacy. What the Committee also heard, however, was that there are significant areas of scientific uncertainty as regards to transmission, effectiveness of the vaccines, implications of new variants …
Government response. Throughout the review, we have consulted with a wide range of clinicians and independent scientific advisory groups on the effectiveness of certification as a tool to manage the spread of COVID, including the standards for acquiring COVID status. expected to …
8
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
While the Government has not set out the locations, events and venues which would be included in a Covid-status certification system, it did provide some indications that certification might be used for venues such as nightclubs, large events like football matches and for international air travel, but would not be …
Government response. The Prime Minister has set out that by the end of September, when all over 18s have had their chance to be double jabbed, the Government plans to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues …
9
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
The Committee welcomes the Government’s commitment to publish the applicable thresholds for when Covid-status certificates may be required by particular locations, and believes that the thresholds for requiring certification should be published alongside the introduction of any such system so that a better understanding of the rationale and decision-making process …
Government response. The Prime Minister has set out that by the end of September, when all over 18s have had their chance to be double jabbed, the Government plans to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues …
10
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
The hospitality, arts and sports sectors have been some of the hardest hit sectors of the UK economy and society. All three witnesses were very clear about the damaging effect of social distancing restrictions. As set out above, we have not seen a convincing scientific case for a Covid-status certification …
Government response. Throughout the review, we’ve undertaken extensive engagement with ethicists, academics and a range of specialists and representatives including from faith, race and disabilities groups. As set out in the report, many ethicists saw a clear case for certification due to …
11
Recommendation
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
A Covid-status certification system would, by its very nature, be discriminatory. The evidence of vaccine uptake is a clear indication that such a system would likely disproportionately discriminate against people on the basis of race, religion and socio-economic background, as well as on the basis of age due to the …
Government response. Throughout the review, we’ve undertaken extensive engagement with ethicists, academics and a range of specialists and representatives including from faith, race and disabilities groups. As set out in the report, many ethicists saw a clear case for certification due to …
12
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
If the Government moves forward with any proposals to introduce such a system, despite the absence of a scientific case for doing so, a full Equalities Impact Assessment must be provided in good time and certainly in advance of any parliamentary vote on the legislation underpinning that system.
Government response. The Government has conducted a full Equalities Impact Assessment and consulted widely to understand the potential equalities impacts of COVID-status certification, speaking to ethicists and representatives of disabilities. The Government will provide this Assessment ahead of the introduction of any …
13
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
We have strong concerns about the data protection risks that are involved in establishing a Covid-status certification system. Again, given that the Government have not established a clear scientific case, nor a good overriding public interest Covid-Status Certification 33 case, for the introduction of a Covid-status certification system, establishing the …
Government response. Throughout the review, we’ve undertaken extensive engagement with ethicists, academics and a range of specialists and representatives including from faith, race and disabilities groups. As set out in the report, many ethicists saw a clear case for certification due to …
14
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
While it may not be the Government’s intention for the potential introduction of Covid-status certificates to be a route to introducing ID cards into the UK, there are clear similarities and legitimate concerns that this could occur. Parliament should be aware of these concerns and take them into account when …
Government response. Throughout the review, we’ve undertaken extensive engagement with ethicists, academics and a range of specialists and representatives including from faith, race and disabilities groups. As set out in the report, many ethicists saw a clear case for certification due to …
15
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
The decision to launch the Covid-status certificate function on the NHS app for international travel, without notifying and consulting Parliament, could be construed as contempt for Parliament and this Committee. The policy should have been set out in advance of any decision being taken to enable scrutiny, and the House …
Government response. The Government has committed to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny ahead of the wider application of certification. The approach to any legislation that may be required will be set out in due course.
16
Recommendation
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
It is all the more unfortunate that the Government took the approach it did on this issue, as it appears to the Committee that demonstrating Covid-status may become a necessary feature of international travel in order to avoid excessive quarantine and testing requirements over the coming months and possibly years. …
Government response. Minimal personal data is shared when using the NHS COVID Pass. For international use, a 2D barcode is generated with encoded data for visual checking or scanning to authenticate. On visual check or scanning, it displays an individual’s first and …
17
Conclusion
Second Report - Covid-Status Certificat…
The introduction a Covid-status certification system would have a serious impact on businesses and individuals and has the possibility of infringing rights and being discriminatory in nature. In light of that, we believe that it would be inappropriate for a system with such a potentially wide adverse impact to be …
Government response. The Government has committed to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny ahead of the wider application of certification. The approach to any legislation that may be required will be set out in due course.