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1194917

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance last updated on 7 April 2020, Financial assistance abroad, if he will provide additional assistance to UK citizens required to pay higher airline fees to return to the UK from overseas as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Halton
tabling member printed	Derek Twigg
uin	45960
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The welfare of British nationals remains our top priority, and we remain committed to ensuring that British travellers around the globe are able to return home.</p><p>We hope most travellers will be able to claim their costs from their travel insurance but for those British nationals that cannot afford the cost of a flight to return, and have no other funding options, they may be eligible for financial support through an emergency loan from public funds.</p><p>To help more British nationals who need a loan return to the UK during the coronavirus pandemic, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has streamlined the process for emergency loans, and begun working with a commercial travel agency (Corporate Travel Management or CTM) to ensure loan recipients' have travel arrangements in place to return home.</p><p>More details can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-assistance-abroad/financial-assistance-abroad#if-you-need-financial-help-abroad" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-assistance-abroad/financial-assistance-abroad#if-you-need-financial-help-abroad</a>.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 18/05/2020 15:56:21 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	429 label Biography information for Derek Twigg

1194929

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Government's charter flights to repatriate people to the UK during the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	46122
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p>Helping British nationals who need and want to return to the UK is one of the Government's highest priorities. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work to keep vital routes open. Additionally we have now brought home over 32,000 people on 155 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 29 countries and territories.</p><p>The UK Government continues to work with the airline industry and host governments across the world to help bring back British travellers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary on 30 March - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights to priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers. A proportion of the funding remains and the work is ongoing to utilise it to support the next phase of our repatriation effort.</p><p>We have asked passengers to pay for a ticket home, just as they would pay for a commercial flight, to help ensure that we can use the money to bring as many people as possible home. The money is being spent directly on the transport required to get people home - this includes charter flights to the UK as well as the costs of ground transport and internal flights to get people to the departure airport.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 26/05/2020 15:49:39 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1194939

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Democratic Republic of Congo: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals had registered with his Department an interest to return from the Democratic Republic of Congo prior to 11 May 2020; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	45950
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>Helping British nationals who need and want to return to the UK is one of the Government's highest priorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working around the clock, through our Posts overseas and in London, to make sure all British people who need help are receiving the support and information they need. We have now brought home nearly 31,000 people on 146 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 27 countries and territories.</p><p>A repatriation flight, with capacity for 150 British Nationals, departed DRC on 14 May with 102 British nationals registered on the manifest. The flight then continued on to Cameroon to collect more British Nationals. This is in addition to the 73 British nationals previously assisted to depart DRC on chartered commercial flights in conjunction with other Embassies.</p><p>Our British Embassy in Kinshasa continues to provide support to British nationals who require assistance.</p><p>Our consular team continues to work around the clock to provide support, advice and information to British nationals in DRC. Our travel advice pages are also regularly updated to ensure that those wishing to return are aware of further developments. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/congo" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/congo</a>.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 18/05/2020 14:44:37 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1194954

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Taiwan: INTERPOL
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support the (a) granting of observer status to Taiwan at the 89th INTERPOL General Assembly and (b) attendance of Taiwan in that organisation's (i) meetings, (ii) mechanisms and (iii) activities.
tabling member constituency	Cleethorpes
tabling member printed	Martin Vickers
uin	46032
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK's longstanding policy on Taiwan and international organisations has not changed. The British Government continues to hold the view that the people of Taiwan have a meaningful contribution to make towards global issues such as combatting organised crime. We therefore support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations, such as INTERPOL, where there is precedent for their involvement, where they can contribute to the global good and where there is no pre-requisite of nationhood for participation. The UK has not made any representations on Taiwan's observer status at INTERPOL this year but will work with international partners on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams grouped question UIN 46033 question first answered 22/05/2020 14:16:47 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	3957 label Biography information for Martin Vickers

1194955

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Taiwan: INTERPOL
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to member states of INTERPOL to (a) grant observer status to Taiwan at the 89th General Assembly of INTERPOL, and (b) enable Taiwan to have access to that organisation's I-24/7 Global Police Communications System and key training programmes.
tabling member constituency	Cleethorpes
tabling member printed	Martin Vickers
uin	46033
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK's longstanding policy on Taiwan and international organisations has not changed. The British Government continues to hold the view that the people of Taiwan have a meaningful contribution to make towards global issues such as combatting organised crime. We therefore support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations, such as INTERPOL, where there is precedent for their involvement, where they can contribute to the global good and where there is no pre-requisite of nationhood for participation. The UK has not made any representations on Taiwan's observer status at INTERPOL this year but will work with international partners on this issue.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams grouped question UIN 46032 question first answered 22/05/2020 14:16:47 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	3957 label Biography information for Martin Vickers

1195028

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Abdullah al-Hamid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2020 to Question 38936 on Saudi Arabia: Political Prisoners, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports that Saudi Arabian human rights defender Abdullah al-Hamid was denied urgent medical attention before his death in detention.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	46088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>We are aware of reports concerning Abdullah al-Hamid's medical attention in detention. While reporting on this case has been limited, we continue to seek information, and will raise any concerns we have with the Saudi authorities. We will continue to regularly raise individual human rights cases and call for political detainees to be given adequate legal representation.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 20/05/2020 14:15:55 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1195033

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Libya: IRA
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has received the report from William Shawcross on UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Heeley
tabling member printed	Louise Haigh
uin	46107
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>The UK is committed to supporting the victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism. That is why in March 2019 the former Foreign Secretary appointed William Shawcross as the UK's Special Representative on UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism. Mr Shawcross has now submitted his report. Ministers will consider the report in detail once the current need to focus on the Covid-19 crisis has abated.</p> answering member constituency Braintree answering member printed James Cleverly question first answered 22/05/2020 10:40:23 answering member 4366 label Biography information for James Cleverly
tabling member	4473 label Biography information for Louise Haigh

1195055

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of British nationals stranded in (a) Ghana, (b) India and (c) Jamaica as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Edgbaston
tabling member printed	Preet Kaur Gill
uin	46128
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working around the clock, through our Posts overseas and in London, to make sure all British people who need help are receiving the support and information they need. We have brought home over 31,700 people on 151 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 27 countries and territories. As at 15 May, these arrivals include (a) over 600 British nationals from Ghana on 29 March, 4 April and 8 April, (b) over 14,500 British nationals from India on 62 flights since 8 April and (c) over 100 British nationals from Jamaica on 8 May. It is difficult to be precise on the numbers of British travellers who still wish to return home because there have been instances of multiple registrations by the same individual, people not reporting their return to the UK via other means, and long term residents registering for flights even though they were not eligible.</p><p>We are aware that there are British travellers remaining in Ghana. There are currently no commercial options available to leave Ghana. The UK Government is working closely with airlines, the Ghanaian authorities and other governments to make sure options are available for British travellers in Ghana to return to the UK as soon as possible.</p><p>There are also extremely limited commercial options available to return to the UK from Jamaica. Our effort is focused on supporting their return as quickly and safely as possible. We are looking at all options to help those seeking to return to the UK and the British High Commission in Kingston is working hard to ensure that British nationals who remain in Jamaica are safe and getting the support they need.</p><p>India's land borders are closed and international flights are suspended until at least 17 May. There are currently no commercial options available to leave India. There is no guarantee that flights will begin straight away once the lockdown is lifted. We are advising those who have booked a flight with a commercial airline during May to prepare for the possibility that the flight will not operate.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams question first answered 22/05/2020 14:10:52 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	4603 label Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill

1195084

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Republic of Ireland: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to update his Department's Covid-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice for the Republic of Ireland.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	46015
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign Commonwealth Office is advising British people against all non-essential travel worldwide due to the unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions currently in place in response to the global pandemic.</p><p>We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping all our travel advice under constant review to ensure it reflects the latest situation on the ground and our assessment of risk to British people. This advice does not affect travel between Northern Ireland and Ireland or intra-UK travel. British nationals in the UK should continue to follow government guidance on staying alert and safe during coronavirus, and those in Ireland should comply with the advice of local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton question first answered 18/05/2020 13:50:24 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

1195088

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	France: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to update his covid-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory Notice for France.
tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
uin	46016
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising British people against all non-essential travel worldwide due to the unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions currently in place in response to the global pandemic.</p><p>We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping all our travel advice under constant review to ensure it reflects the latest situation on the ground and our assessment of risk to British people.</p> answering member constituency Selby and Ainsty answering member printed Nigel Adams grouped question UIN 46017 46018 46019 question first answered 21/05/2020 13:53:57 answering member 4057 label Biography information for Nigel Adams
tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard