Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the time it will take to restore basic infrastructure in the British Virgin Islands.

​The devastation caused by the recent hurricanes left the British Virgin Islands (BVI) without access to basic necessities like running water, electricity and shelter. The Government, through its regional taskforce, mounted an operation to provide immediate humanitarian relief and continues to work with the Government of the British Virgin Islands to help restore vital public infrastructure. To this end the BVI Government, with other regional development partners and the UK's Royal Engineers, is conducting thorough needs assessments for the restoration of basic infrastructure on the islands. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, FCO Minister for the Overseas Territories recently met the Premier of the British Virgin Islands to discuss the BVI Government's draft plans for near-term recovery and ongoing UK support.