Recommendation 15

HM Government Acknowledged

The Government has noted this recommendation. However, the Government does not agree that the consultation should be expanded to assess how the private travel testing market could be regulated to make it function effectively for consumers. The Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation sought views on a range of consumer policy reforms that have been longer standing issues and were not specifically COVID-19 related. In addition, this consultation explored several options which provided opportunities to review retained EU legislation providing consumer protections for domestic UK flights. The issues facing consumers with the private COVID-19 testing market have been dealt with separately through regular CMA reviews and DHSC and UKHSA taking action against poor performing providers. The list of providers on GOV.UK was continually updated by the DHSC as providers legally declared that they meet the required standards and were required to meet high standards. The self-declaration was reviewed to ensure standards were met by United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). If providers did not consistently meet the minimum standards, they were forced to cease trading. Local Trading Standards teams were responsible for formal proceedings and acted in appropriate criminal cases. All offences are enforced through the relevant enforcement body and are punishable by summary conviction in the Magistrates’ Courts and a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) £2,500; second FPN £5,000 and third £10,000. New regulations came into force on 23 September required enhanced data from providers, and set out the expected turnaround times to ensure government got the information needed. This was intended to improve standards and send a clear message to the market that we have high expectations of our providers and will ensure they deliver to the standards set out. DHSC and the UKHSA will continue to monitor the private COVID-19 testing market and to engage with the CMA. The Government will also continue to work with other nations to encourage them to follow our lead and remove all testing requirements for international travel as soon as the epidemiological situation allows.