This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Do not rollout Covid-19 vaccine passports
We want the Government to commit to not rolling out any e-vaccination status/immunity passport to the British public. Such passports could be used to restrict the rights of people who have refused a Covid-19 vaccine, which would be unacceptable.
More details
On Dec 14th 2020, Nadhim Zahawi MP said 'there are no plans for vaccine passports'. He continues to deny the Government has plans despite reports that people who have received the Covid-19 vaccine will be offered a passport proving they have been vaccinated as part of a government-funded trial.
The Government must be completely clear to the public about the use of vaccine passports & their intentions, which will undoubtedly affect societal cohesion & effect the economic recovery of Great Britain this year & into 2022.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Parliament debated this topic
This topic was debated on 15 March 2021
Government responded
This response was given on 3 March 2021
The Government is reviewing whether COVID-status certificates could play a role in reopening parts of our economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety.
Read the response in full
The Government is reviewing whether COVID-status certificates could play a role in reopening parts of our economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety.
As set out in the roadmap by the Prime Minister, this review will include assessing to what extent certification would be effective in reducing risk, and the potential uses to enable access to settings or a relaxation of COVID-Secure mitigations. The Government will also consider the ethical, equalities, privacy, legal and operational aspects of this approach and what limits, if any, should be placed on organisations using certification. It will draw on external advice to develop recommendations that take into account any social and economic impacts, and implications for disproportionately impacted groups and individuals’ privacy and security. The Government will set out its conclusions in advance of Step 4 in order to inform the safe reopening of society and the economy.
As the Prime Minister has said, there are complex ethical issues - and we can't discriminate against people who, for whatever reason, haven't had a vaccine.
Cabinet Office
Related activity
Petitions Committee schedules debate on vaccine passports
On Monday 15 March, MPs will debate vaccine passports, in response to this petition.
Watch the debate (from 4.30pm, Mon 15 March):
https://youtu.be/wtJqyDyuqhE
Read the debate transcript (available shortly after the conclusion of the debate): https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-03-15
Follow the Committee on Twitter and join the discussion using #VaccinePassportDebate: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
The debate has been scheduled by the Petitions Committee will be led by Committee member Mike Hill MP. MPs from all parties can take part, and the Government will send a Minister to respond.
What are petitions debates?
Petitions debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Share your views on vaccine certificates with the Government
On Monday 15 March the Government launched a public consultation as part of its review into whether COVID-status certification, sometimes described as ‘vaccine passports’, could play a role in reopening our economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety.
You can find out more about this Review, and share your views on the potential implementation of COVID-status certification, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/covid-status-certification-review-call-for-evidence.
The deadline for sharing your views is 23:59 on Monday 29 March.
MPs to take evidence
On Tuesday 23 March, MPs on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) will hold an evidence session to look at the ethical and legal issues surrounding the potential use of ‘vaccine certificates’, sometimes referred to as ‘vaccine passports’.
The Committee will hear from Gracie Bradley, Interim Director of human rights charity Liberty, Rt Hon David Davis MP, and Professor Jonathan Wolff, Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy at the University of Oxford.
Watch the session from 9.30am, Tuesday 23 March: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons
Read the transcript (published some time after the conclusion of the session): https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/publications/oral-evidence/
What is PACAC?
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) is a cross-party group of backbench MPs appointed by the House of Commons to examine the principles under which the UK is governed (our constitution); the quality and standards of administration provided by Civil Service departments; and the reports of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
MPs investigate plans for Covid passports
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (a group of MPs who look into issues relating to the UK constitution and civil service) has published a report which calls for the Government to scrap any plans to introduce domestic Covid-status certification, also known as Covid passports.
The Government has suggested that such a system, based on proof of vaccination or a negative test result, could help manage the disease in future, allowing the economy to reopen and social restrictions to be lifted. It is currently undertaking a review into whether (and how) such a system could be introduced.
However, the MPs on the Committee said the Government had so far failed to make the scientific case in favour of the system, and raised concerns that such a system could “disproportionately discriminate” against people on the basis of their race, religion, age or socio-economic background. They concluded plans for Covid passports were "unnecessary" and "unjustified".
Read the report (HTML):
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpubadm/42/4202.htm
Read the report (PDF):
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/6264/documents/69158/default/
Read the Committee's press release:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/news/155788/no-justification-for-covid-passports-say-committee/
The Government will respond to the Committee's report in the coming weeks.
What is the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee?
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee examines constitutional issues, and the quality and standards of administration provided by Civil Service departments. It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.
Find out more on their website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/
You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CommonsPACAC
This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
Ministerial statement on covid-19 and covid-status certification
On Monday 5 July, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid MP gave a statement to the House of Commons on covid-19. The Secretary of State updated MPs on the Government's plans for social restrictions and guidance from 19 July.
He also announced the outcome of the Government's review of domestic covid-status certification, also known as 'covid passports'. The Secretary of State confirmed the Government will not mandate the use of covid-status certification as a condition of entry for visitors to any setting, such as shops or events, at the present time.
Watch the statement here:
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/eacc6a97-9c80-4d44-b254-cfa537a2b1c5?in=17:02:41&out=17:52:16
Read the transcript here:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-07-05/debates/803398B1-F845-43BA-A159-22E4CC6B9ECD/Covid-19Update
Read the Government's report on its covid-status certification review:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/999408/COVID-Status-Certification-Review-Report.pdf
The Government's review concluded that there would be a public health benefit to covid-status certification, but that the burden of implementing such a system, to businesses and individuals not yet fully vaccinated, would be disproportionate to that benefit at this stage of the pandemic.
However, the Government has stated that individual organisations may make a discretionary choice to require covid-status certification (for example, via the NHS app) to help keep their premises safe, although the review has concluded that "essential services" should not do this.
The review also noted that the Government will keep the option of routine covid-status certification under review, and that certification could provide a means of keeping events going and businesses open if the country is facing a difficult situation in autumn or winter.
What are Ministerial statements?
Ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of the House.
Find out more about them here: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/statements/
Government announces plans to make vaccination a condition of entry to venues with large crowds
On Monday 19 July, MPs questioned Nadhim Zahawi, the Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, on the Government's response to Covid-19, including plans to make full vaccination a condition of entry to venues where large crowds gather, following a ministerial statement.
In his statement, the Minister said that the Government were "supporting the safe reopening of large, crowded settings such as nightclubs […] and music venues through the use of the NHS covid pass as a condition of entry to reduce the risks of transmission", and said that he "encourage[d] businesses to draw on this support and to use the NHS covid pass in the weeks ahead."
The Minister went on to say: "By the end of September, everyone aged 18 and over will have had the chance to receive full vaccination and the additional two weeks for that protection to take hold. At that point, we plan to make full vaccination a condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather."
Watch the Government statement and MPs' questions: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/9b8f813c-e5e4-4a2a-9c61-bcc3f4e6c762?in=16:37:06
Read the transcript:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-07-19/debates/64EACE0F-A4FD-45C9-BCAF-CD14132B5366/Covid-19Update
What is a ministerial statement?
Ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to bring an important matter to the attention of MPs, often at short notice. You can find out more about them here: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/statements/
Ministers are the MPs and members of the House of Lords who are in the Government. They are appointed by the Prime Minister and each given a specific area of government policy to oversee, for example education, health and social care, or national defence. Some senior Ministers are also referred to as Secretaries of State. Ministers speak on behalf of the Government during parliamentary debates and must answer questions put to them by other MPs or members of the House of Lords.
MPs question Government on plans for covid vaccine passports
On Wednesday 8 September, MPs questioned the Government about plans for covid vaccine passports.
You can watch the questions and the Government's response on Parliament TV: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/9f86ff53-859d-465c-8295-498d53d52bdc?in=12:37:48
You can read the questions and the Government's response on the Hansard website: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-09-08/debates/6C6C1F6B-C2B2-4AF5-BC4B-643F8DEEF204/CovidVaccinePassports
The Minister for Covid Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi MP, restated the Prime Minister's announcement of 19 July that by the end of September—when all over 18s will have had the chance to be double jabbed—the Government were planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather. He said that the Government would confirm more details for its plans on covid vaccine passports in due course.
Why was the Government questioned about its plans for covid vaccine passports?
If an urgent or important matter arises which an MP believes requires an immediate answer from a government minister, they may apply to ask an urgent question.
Alistair Carmichael MP applied to ask the Government about plans for international travel, and this request was granted by the Speaker.
Find out more about Urgent Questions here:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/urgent-questions/
Government responds to report on Covid-status certification
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee has published the Government's response to its report on plans to introduce domestic Covid-status certification, also known as Covid passports.
Read the Government's response (HTML): https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpubadm/670/67002.htm
Read the Government's response (PDF): https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/7176/documents/75707/default/
The Government's response states that the Government believes that certification would provide a public health benefit, and that it will set out more detail about the settings where certification will be required in due course.
Responding to the Government's response, the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, William Wragg MP, said:
“With recent analysis suggesting that vaccinated people carry as much of the virus as the unvaccinated into any setting, the disappointing lack of any scientific basis for the Government’s decision to go ahead could reasonably lead people to conclude that there is in fact no such basis. If the real goal is to drive vaccine uptake, then it is a deeply cynical approach that will be counterproductive.”
Read the Committee's press release about the Government's response: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/news/157355/covid-passport-policy-lacks-scientific-evidence-base/
What did the Committee's report on Covid-status certification say?
The Committee's report said the Government had so far failed to make the scientific case in favour of the system, and raised concerns that such a system could “disproportionately discriminate” against people on the basis of their race, religion, age or socio-economic background. They concluded plans for Covid passports were "unnecessary" and "unjustified".
Read the report (HTML):
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpubadm/42/4202.htm
Read the report (PDF):
https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/6264/documents/69158/default/
Read the Committee's press release:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/news/155788/no-justification-for-covid-passports-say-committee/
What is the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee?
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is a cross-party group of MPs which examines constitutional issues, and the quality and standards of administration provided by Civil Service departments. It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.
Find out more on their website:
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/327/public-administration-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/
You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CommonsPACAC
This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
Government launches consultation on mandatory covid-19 certification in a Plan B scenario
The Government has launched a public call for evidence on its planned approach to covid-19 status certification, in the event that it considers it necessary to introduce this measure over this autumn or winter.
Read a summary of the proposals, and share your views:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proposal-for-mandatory-covid-certification-in-a-plan-b-scenario
The call for evidence is open until 11 October.
Autumn and Winter Plan for covid-19
The Government recently published its Autumn and Winter Plan for its covid-19 response. This set out how the Government intends to continue managing the impact of the pandemic over this period.
You can read the plan here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-autumn-and-winter-plan-2021
Alongside the Autumn and Winter Plan, the Government also prepared a 'Plan B', which would come into effect if data suggests the NHS is likely to come under unsustainable pressure.
The Government suggested this 'Plan B' could include introducing mandatory covid-status certification in certain settings including nightclubs, music venues, outdoor festivals and large sports events. However, final decisions on the policy have not yet been made and the Government is inviting responses on its proposals.
The Government is particularly interested in the views of businesses, event organisers and venue operators, but the consultation is open to everyone over the age of 18.
Read the proposals in full:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proposal-for-mandatory-covid-certification-in-a-plan-b-scenario/proposal-for-mandatory-covid-certification-in-a-plan-b-scenario
Who is running the consultation?
The consultation is being run by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Government department responsible for the NHS and oversight of social care in England.
Find out more about the DHSC:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Government introduces COVID-19 status requirements for entering certain venues and events
On Tuesday 14 December the House of Commons debated and approved new requirements to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, or a negative COVID-19 test, before entering certain venues and events.
Read what was said during the debate: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-12-14/debates/8034393B-C568-4DE6-8695-1D63F957537E/PublicHealth
You can also watch the debate on Parliamentlive.tv: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/61329c5b-ac88-4243-bbc9-35f8a142b5c7?in=13:46:46
What do the new rules mean?
The new rules mean that, if you are aged 18 or over, to enter certain venues and events in England you must have proof of one of the following:
- you are vaccinated with 2 doses of an approved vaccine
- you have taken a PCR or rapid lateral flow test within the last 48 hours
- you are exempt on the basis of a medical exemption or clinical trial participation
People who live in England can show their NHS COVID Pass to prove they’re vaccinated, have completed a negative PCR test or negative lateral flow test within the past 48 hours, or are exempt.
You can read more about using your NHS COVID Pass for travel abroad and at venues and settings in England here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass
And you can read the Government's guidance setting out which venues and events must use the NHS COVID Pass, or equivalent proof of vaccination or testing, as a condition of entry, and how to operate the scheme, here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carrying-out-mandatory-covid-19-status-checks-at-your-venue-or-event
The new requirements are set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Entry to Venues and Events) (England) Regulations 2021, which you can read here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/1416/contents/made