The Prime Minister has defended NHS Test and Trace, which could end up costing the taxpayer £37 billion, after MPs said there was “no clear evidence” it cut coronavirus infections.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson backed the programme, telling MPs: “It’s thanks to NHS Test and Trace that we’re able to send kids back to school and begin cautiously and irreversibly to reopen our economy and restart our lives.”
Last week, Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget included an additional £15 billion for Test and Trace, taking the total bill to more than £37 billion over two years. But a report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) called on the Government to justify the “staggering investment” of taxpayers’ money.
It comes as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps reiterated that May 17 is the “earliest date” that people will be allowed to travel for holidays. When asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme if it was too early to book a summer holiday, Mr Shapps said: “Yes.”
