With people in Wales travelling overseas having to pay more for Covid-19 PCR testing than their fellow Britons, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has challenged the Welsh Government over the unjust ruling.
Raising the matter in today’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood quoted constituents who have contacted him outraged at the additional costs for Welsh residents travelling abroad and called for a Welsh Government Statement on the matter.
Earlier in the meeting, when asked by another MS how the Welsh Government justifies the difference in cost, the First Minister replied: “The advice of the Welsh Government is clear to people: don't travel abroad. I don't intend to divert the activities of my officials into making it easier for people to do something that the Welsh Government so clearly thinks is unadvisable.”
Speaking during the Business Statement, Mr Isherwood said:
“I heard the First Minister’s response earlier, but this will not satisfy the constituent who e-mailed on Saturday as follows:
‘I have booked a package holiday via TUI but, unlike residents of England, I can't take advantage of their testing package at a cost of £20 for all tests.
‘Instead I am forced to pay £88 per person just for the return PCR test, plus an additional charge for the return to UK antigen test. For the 4 adults and 2 children travelling, this adds an additional overhead of more than £400”.
‘I was also in dialogue today with a lady who was due to take her last holiday with her terminally Ill husband and now may have to reconsider due to this unnecessary cost.
‘This kind of treatment of people who have followed all rules for 16 months is not what I expect of the Welsh Government’.”
“I call for a Statement accordingly.”
The Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths MS, replied: “I don't think I can add anything further to the First Minister's comments earlier.”
Speaking outside the meeting, Mr Isherwood said:
“It cannot be right that people in Wales should have to pay so much more than fellow Britons resident only a few miles away because of this First Minister’s unceasing determination to do things differently.”