'Door not shut': Summer holidays abroad could be saved by Porton Down tests

Summer holidays abroad could be saved by Porton Down tests on how the vaccines work on new variants, Matt Hancock has disclosed.

The Health Secretary said the findings from the tests at the Ministry of Defence’s top secret labs in Wiltshire due in the “next few weeks” could determine how many countries had restrictions lifted for summer holidays.

He said “the door was not shut” on foreign getaways as it emerged Government scientists have been heartened by preliminary data that suggests the vaccines may be effective against new variants and the risk of transmission is reduced “substantially” in people who have been innoculated.

Both Mr Hancock and Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, on Monday warned that the biggest risk in the UK’s battle against Covid was the importation of new variants, which have surged on the Continent and particularly in France.

"The biggest problem that we've got in terms of holidays, is that if there is a new variant that the vaccine doesn't work against," said Mr Hancock.

Asked if current vaccines might work against the South African and Brazilian variants, he said: "We're not yet sure, but we're doing the science in Porton Down, and watching very closely.

“And if that all goes well, then we haven't got a problem and then we'll be much more relaxed about international travel. We will know more over the next few weeks."

Initial data now being analysed by scientists on the effectiveness of the vaccines against new variants is “positive,” while the risk of transmission from those vaccinated appears to be substantially reduced, a key factor in preventing its spread, according to sources.

Asked if there will be any international travel this summer, Mr Hancock said: “There may well be, I wouldn’t rule that out. The door is not shut, it’s just too early to say. What we can say with confidence is the unlocking at home is on track.”

A potential blueprint for resuming foreign travel from May 17 at the earliest is being drawn up by a global travel taskforce. Boris Johnson is due to give an update on its work on Monday before its publication on April 12.

The surge in variants on the continent and slow vaccination rollout in Europe has dented hopes of an early re-start of overseas holidays and the taskforce is not expected to identify countries that are safe to travel to.

Instead, it will set out a “traffic light” system for rating the safety of countries and the restrictions needed to allow travel amid fears that many destinations may not get the go ahead until August.

Nigel Huddlestone, tourism minister, on Monday said people should plan to holiday in Britain because of rising infections across Europe. “Remember you can have a holiday in the UK as well and I encourage people to do that and plan for that as well,” he told Sky News.

“We do want to open up as soon as we can. That goes for domestic and indeed international [travel], but we’ll do so cautiously based on the evidence and we’ll keep a very close eye on what’s happening in both the EU and elsewhere around the world.”

It came as Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Monday held a “listening exercise” with MPs on the ongoing review into domestic Covid passports, which could see pubs, theatres and other venues require proof of vaccination, antibodies or a negative test as a condition of entry.

Insiders present said that MPs provided a “mixed response” to the proposals, with senior Tory backbenchers Steve Baker and David Davis reiterating their concerns that it could be discriminatory and an erosion of peoples’ freedoms.

However, others present suggested they would support measures which could enable the economy to reopen faster.

One source said that Tory MP Dr Andrew Murrison, who is administering vaccines, had claimed that members of the public were “calling out” for passports as a way of safely reopening society.

“I think the general sense is that people are open to certification,” a second insider said.

Another MP present said: “I would have concerns potentially about privacy and liberty. But it’s also very important that we get everything open again. I think a lot of people out in the country are keen to get back to some sense of normality and are willing to look at ways to make that happen sooner.

“We do have a job of changing the psychology from fear to making people more aware that they are at pretty low risk now.”

While Mr Gove is said to have remained tight-lipped about the Government's plans, he stressed that ministers were still drawing up plans and that no final decision had been made, with any scheme unlikely to be ready for several months.

However, one sceptic present said: "I think they are prejudiced in favour of it [Covid passports]."

More than 40 cross-party MPs and peers have called for international travel to be reopened from May 17 with trips to "low-risk" nations having minimal or no restrictions and restrictions on "high risk" nations.

They also urge the introduction of rapid testing for international arrivals where required and for any use of the ‘test to release’ policy to keep quarantine periods as low as possible.

The letter, by the all party Future of Aviation all party group, has been signed by former Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley MP, former Aviation Minister Paul Maynard MP and Chair of the Transport Select Committee Huw Merriman MP.

Henry Smith MP, Chair of the APPG for the Future of Aviation said: “We cannot begin our long road to recovery if we keep our skies shut throughout the summer months. The introduction of a risk-based approach to the restart of international travel provides the right balance between reopening travel and ensuring that we remain vigilant against Covid-19 variants of concern."

Duncan Edwards, chief executive of BritishAmerican Business, said: "With the world-beating success of their vaccination programs the U.S. and UK should now lead the world in re-opening air travel between the two countries.

"Travel is an essential part of the trade and investment between these two great trading nations and the effective ban on travel will inevitably lead to delayed or cancelled orders and investment and in the end, lost jobs.

"The impact is felt especially by small and medium-sized companies who don't have extensive teams in the other market and rely on travel to see their customers and suppliers. Evidence suggests air travel is safe and it is time to remove the U.S. ban and UK quarantine."