Asked about the possibility of implementing vaccine passports, Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday (16 February): “So internationally, if other countries will require a vaccine certificate, then I think it’s right that we [government] facilitate it.

“Already when people travel to certain countries they have to have a yellow fever certificate, so I think it’s right that we do that [offer Covid vaccination certificates] and that’s what we’re working on if there is a requirement. 

“Any [traveller] can then ask for their vaccine certificate in the way we do pre-departure certificates now - and of course we require them [negative test certificates] for people who come into our country.” 

Zahawi also echoed comments by prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday (15 February), saying the government was “not looking at the domestic use of vaccine passports”.

He latest comments seemed to contradict his views on vaccine passports shared when speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (7 February).

During his appearance Zahawi said ministers had “no plan” to introduce vaccine passports for travel, believing such a scheme to be “discriminatory”.