Rhodes Wildfires: Repatriation of Holidaymakers

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Excerpts

Tuesday 25th July 2023 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown (Con)]

My Lords, at present, as I understand the situation, all British nationals are in good health. The noble Baroness makes a very good point about the facilities available to our nationals in Greece at the moment. As I said earlier, there is a small Red Cross team at the airport. If there is anything more that I can add to my answer, I will write to the noble Baroness.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, the Minister referred to the consular staff. Can he tell us how many British consular staff there are in our consulate in Rhodes, as opposed to the locally engaged staff?

[The Earl of Courtown (Con)]

I do not have the number of consular staff in Rhodes to hand but, as I said, we have sent out a team to Rhodes Airport, including Red Cross personnel. The FCDO has deployed a rapid deployment team of six FCDO staff—who are based, as I understand it, at the airport—and there are four British Red Cross responders there to support British nationals.