Government confirms 1 October travel rules update

Addressing the Commons on Tuesday (14 September), Sajid Javid said the government would publish a “new framework for international travel” on 1 October, but gave no further details.

It followed speculation he would use a statement in parliament to lift the UK’s current Day 2 PCR test requirements and make changes to the traffic light system.

However, he said only that transport secretary Grant Shapps would address travel rules on 1 October.

Javid did confirm there may be further measures such as mandatory face mask wearing and a return to working from home if there was an autumn spike in Covid cases.

Pressed by chair of the transport select committee, Huw Merriman, on whether the government would lower the Day 2 testing standard from PCR to lateral flow, Javid said Shapps would be the one to provide a full update.

However, he added: "I don’t want to pre-empt the statement of my right honourable friend the transport secretary but I believe that when he makes that statement, my honourable friend [Merriman] will be pleased."