Speaking in parliament on Monday (20 September), Grant Shapps said that 18 months on from the start of the pandemic, “we are now in a world where we know that vaccinations make a very big and sustained difference and I hope we move away from a world in which instant changes are required”.
He added: “I cannot absolutely guarantee that, but I think we can see by the direction of movement that things are coming on to a more sustainable footing.”
Shapps said the Department of Health and Social Care (DoH) would set out more details on testing requirements.
The industry is anxious that these are in place for the last week of October, when schools close for half-term. Shapps told MPs: “I am sure that they [the DoH] will have had half-term in mind.”
From 4 October, arrivals from the UK, US and EU will no longer have to take a pre-departure test prior to their journey to England. Shapps also revealed entry rules for fully vaccinated travellers from Canada and Japan would also be eased from the same date.
“That will bring the number of countries and territories in scope to 50,” he said.
“We will happily work with anyone who applies and can meet those standards and will onboard them. I can tell the House that we are in the final stages of doing this with our friends in the United Arab Emirates.”
Shapps also detailed changes for transit passengers. “I can tell the House today [Monday 20 September] of another significant easing of the rules for those who change flights or international trains as part of their journeys here.
“This change will ensure that passengers who remain in airports and in railway stations will only be required to follow the measures associated with their country of departure rather than any countries they have transited through as part of their journey.”
He added: “We will further review these measures early in the new year, when we hope to be in a different context that will allow us to go that step further ahead of booking windows for the spring and the summer of 2022.”
