MPs get out of PCR tests ‘looting’ for vacationers

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“Those who test positive will then have more expensive PCR tests and sequencing. Based on these numbers, this will be cheaper for passengers and will also lead to more sequencing,” Merriman said.

“Passengers are being robbed with expensive PCR tests. We were told this was justified for sequencing of variants, but only five per cent of tests. This barrier to affordable travel needs to stop now.”

The average cost of £75 PCR tests in England and Wales is almost double that of the cheapest EU countries including France (£42) and Greece (less than £40), where many are subsidized or maximally supported by their governments . The most expensive in Britain is £270 – nearly seven times the cheapest in the European Union.

Henry Smith, the Conservative chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Aviation Group, urged the government to rethink travel testing in the next traffic light review within three weeks and replace PCR with lateral flow.

“The next three weeks are crucial in looking at the whole testing regime and how effective it is. The NHS testing data proves that you should have a more accurate testing regime, certainly for travelers from green countries, whether they have been vaccinated or not, and seriously look at the amber,” Mr Smith said. Himself”.

“The testing system is very cumbersome given the efficacy it claims to provide in terms of protecting public health.”

Teresa Villiers, a former Minister of Transport, said: “The success of the vaccination program here and in many other countries means we need to start moving on from onerous and expensive testing requirements.

“Much progress has been made in starting holiday travel again, but ministers need to push for further relaxation of testing commitments so families are not burdened with hundreds of pounds of fees. Greater use of cheaper and faster lateral flow tests will help.”

The demands came as the government tried to boost travel by lifting quarantine restrictions on France, adding seven countries to the green list and turning four countries – India, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar – from red to yellow.

However, travel industry leaders say many families are being priced out of travel because of the cost of PCR testing, which is required on arrival from green and amber countries even if people are vaccinated.

Grant Shapps, the transport minister, claimed that nine out of 10 travelers from Spain had already taken a PCR test before boarding flights to the UK because the quality of rapid tests in Spain was lower, although this has been disputed by some travelers and tour operators.

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