Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
The Department acknowledged that it took the decision to build up tracing capacity centrally at...
Conclusion
The Department acknowledged that it took the decision to build up tracing capacity centrally at the beginning because of the need to do this quickly, but it maintained that there had been “a series of conversations” with local authorities and directors of public health. NHST&T stressed that it had always engaged with and had senior representations from local authorities at a national level.68 As of October 2020, the National Audit Office noted that NHST&T’s Executive Committee included one member from a local authority 60 MHRA, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-issues-exceptional-use-authorisation-for-nhs-test-and- trace-covid-19-self-test-device 61 Q 10; Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/14/regulator-refuses-to-approve-mass-covid- testing-schools-in-england?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other 62 Q 10 63 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/daily-contact-testing-in-schools-statement-from-phe-and-nhs-tt- about-next-steps/position-statement-regarding-daily-contact-testing-in-schools-from-phe-and-nhs-test-and- trace 64 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/asymptomatic-testing-in-schools-and-colleges 65 Q 5 66 Qq 86–87; Local Government Association submission para 3; British Medical Association submission paras 1.1–1.8; We Own It submission paras 3–5; C&AG’s report, para 7 67 C&AG’s Report, para 19, 1.24 68 Qq 86–88 16 COVID-19: Test, track and trace (part 1) (out of 15 members).69 NHST&T told us that it had increasingly involved local authorities in its test and trace programme, for example through rolling out community testing.70 It has also established contact tracing partnerships with nearly 300 local authorities, and has plans to increase local support for ‘extended’ contact tracing (when tracers seek to identify where an individual was infected, not just their close contacts).71 However, both the National Audit Office report and evidence submitted by the Local Government Association highlighted a lack of clarity about whether and how much funding was avai
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The department agree with the committee that NHST&T cannot support citizens and businesses unaided. It is only by working across local and national partners in government, and in critical sectors, that we will break the chains of transmission. 5.3 Since the NAO’s report in December 2020 on the Government’s approach to test and trace in England was produced, NHST&T has significantly extended engagement with partners, especially local authorities. Local communities are at the heart of breaking the chains of transmission. It is vital to have a continued strong local, regional and national partnership to support people to understand and comply with the guidance and regulations designed to protect their health. The department has worked with local and regional partners to update the Contain Framework which sets out the roles and responsibilities of each partner, the requirements of local authorities and the support they can expect from regional and national teams. Regional teams are now meeting with local authorities daily on risks/issues, support needs and good practice. The Community Testing Programme supports local authorities in making testing accessible to people in local communities, particularly in disproportionately affected groups. 5.4 NHST&T is engaging with all sectors that need testing to reopen, but this relationship is mediated through the relevant government departments which have more knowledge and expertise in the needs of these sectors. For example, the Department for Education leads on schools and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are leading on hospitality, supported by NHST&T. It ensures that all interested departments are engaged in any testing initiatives.