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<p><strong>Following the change to date for answer of this PQ, I submitted a response
by email on 26 March, with the following response.The Table Office have agreed this
approach.</strong></p><p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides information
on what to do and who to contact if British nationals require financial assistance
abroad: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-assistance-abroad/financial-assistance-abroad.
We are helping to reduce travel costs by encouraging airlines to have maximum flexibility
on changing return tickets. Where people are in real need, our consular teams will
work with them to consider their options and, as a last resort, offer an emergency
loan. We have also published advice for British nationals who do not have immediate
departure options available to them: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus#if-youre-abroad-and-you-want-to-return-to-the-uk.</p><p>We
are working closely with local authorities, commercial airlines and other diplomatic
missions to enable British people to get home. Our consular team is working around
the clock to provide support, advice and information. The situation is fast moving,
and our advice at this time is for British nationals to secure safe accommodation
and to speak to their tour operator, airline and insurance company to discuss the
options available to them. Consular teams are continuing to support British people
who are experiencing disruption. We are working intensively with the Governments of
those countries that have closed their borders to people travelling to and from the
UK, to enable airlines to bring back British people to the UK, if that is what they
want. We are providing direct support to individuals through our contact centre and
consular teams, but call volumes are high. In light of the rapidly changing situation,
we urge all travellers to sign up for our travel advice alert service. We will keep
the situation under review and remain in contact with the airline operators and authorities
overseas to facilitate return travel.</p>
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