Second Report - Covid-Status Certification

The government responds by committing to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny for certification's wider application and states that the legislative approach will be set out in due course, but does not address the committee's concern about past conflicting statements and damage to public trust.

The government acknowledges the need to measure and assess public health interventions, references existing reports and SAGE findings, and states it will monitor the application of any scheme, but does not commit to publishing specific efficacy assessment criteria or a clear statement on satisfaction of those criteria.

The government states it reviewed costs and benefits as part of its certification review, and that published findings will be made available "in due course".

The government states that the cost of certification varies by model and, based on ERP trials, analysis showed a significantly better revenue impact for organisations compared to other interventions, but does not provide full costings.

The government states it reviewed different certification models and the outcome is in a published report, along with relevant SAGE papers which relate to COVID-status certification, implying these address the request for published modelling.

The government rejects the committee's assessment, stating it believes certification provides a public health benefit and has made the NHS COVID Pass available and is encouraging its use for entry to certain venues.

The government provides a scientific rationale, citing consultations and studies on vaccine effectiveness and transmission reduction, stating certification could be a useful tool for managing risk and keeping events and businesses open.

The government states its plan to require full vaccination for entry to nightclubs and other crowded venues by the end of September, with more details on settings to follow, but does not address the committee's concern about arbitrary venue selection.

The government has stated its plan to make full vaccination a condition of entry for nightclubs and other large venues by the end of September, and will set out more detail on required settings in due course.

The government rejects the committee's call against a domestic certification system, stating it won't mandate its use from Step 4 but is encouraging voluntary use of the NHS COVID Pass and reserves the right to mandate it in certain venues if necessary.

The government rejects abandoning the certification system, stating that while it was not mandated from Step 4, they are encouraging its use and reserve the right to mandate it in certain venues if necessary.

The government states it has conducted a full Equalities Impact Assessment and commits to providing it ahead of the introduction of any required legislation.

The government's response discusses the certification review and the decision to encourage rather than mandate the NHS COVID Pass, but it does not address the committee's specific request to publish a Data Protection Impact Assessment.

The government's response discusses the certification review and the decision to encourage rather than mandate the NHS COVID Pass, but it does not address the committee's concern about a potential link to ID cards or the recommendation for Parliament to consider this.

The government commits to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny for the wider application of certification and will set out the approach to any required legislation in due course, but does not address the committee's concerns about past lack of scrutiny for the international travel function.

The government states that minimal personal data is shared via the NHS COVID Pass for international use, explaining it only displays name, date of birth, and vaccine details, which is transient and not stored.

The government commits to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny but defers a decision on the specific legislative approach required for wider application of certification, stating it will be set out in due course.