Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps setting out where the UK’s rules currently overlap, and has demanded explanations for the government’s decision to pursue a test to release scheme rather simply requiring travellers to meet the same pre-travel testing requirements many other countries have sought.
McMahon has called on government to publish the scientific evidence underpinning its travel corridor list, which currently allows people to travel to England without certification of a pre-travel negative Covid test or having to quarantine on arrival.
With regards to South Africa, McMahon asked the government to confirm how many people have travelled to the UK from South Africa since ministers became aware of the new Covid variant there, and what measures are in place to ensure non-residents travelling to the UK from South Africa are being stopped at the border – including those arriving via connections or through other countries.
On test to release, McMahon has sought clarity on how many tests had been completed each week since the policy was rolled out in mid-December, and whether it believed cost was limiting take-up.
Finally, McMahon called on Shapps to expand on the hastily announced exemption for "high-value business travellers" and various other people, including the basis on which the policy is founded.
Away from testing and quarantine matters, McMahon said it had been nine months since the chancellor promises sector-specific support for aviation, which he said was yet to materialise.
"Labour’s position is clear – the government must come up with the sector-specific plan it promised for the aviation sector and its supply chain, that supports almost a quarter of a million jobs," said McMahon.
TTG has approached the Department for Transport for comment.
