Fourth Special Report - Safe return of international travel? Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2019–21

This is the government's response, published 1 July 2021.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government says it agrees with the aim of most of the Committee's four recommendations on international travel, and states that it "partially agrees" with the fourth, on border queues.

• On the traffic-light framework, the government "agrees" that clarity for individuals and industry is of "utmost importance". It announced a restart from 17 May with a list of green, amber and red countries.
• On the criteria for moving countries between categories, it says allocations are "reviewed every three weeks" and that measures will be reviewed at checkpoint reviews "no later than the 28 June, 31 July and 1 October".
• On testing, it "agrees with the aim" and is working to reduce costs, but says PCR testing "is currently necessary to identify variants of concern" even as it agrees with maximising the role of antigen tests.
• On border queues, it says automation of the Passenger Locator Form and upgrades to border systems "will be in place by Autumn 2021, with major UK ports complete this Summer". Translation of the form will be progressed "as soon as possible".

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