Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to recommence direct flights to Jamaica on health and compassionate grounds.

The operation of specific routes is a commercial decision for airlines. The Government remains committed to working with industry to ensure a return to international travel when it is safe to do so.

The UK has introduced further border controls to add another level of protection against the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and reduce the risk of a new and dangerous strain being imported into the UK. The travel measures announced in January include the requirement for pre-departure tests, travel bans, and government-approved managed quarantine for arrivals from red list countries. Further information is available on Gov.uk.

We keep all our measures under constant review, and they will remain in place as long as is required in order to protect public health and reduce transmission of the virus and to reduce the risk of new variants.

Anyone wishing to travel should always check the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.