Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on the rescue of the 47 migrants by the Sea-Watch 3 vessel.
As part of our bilateral relationship with Italy we regularly discuss migration issues at ministerial and official level. Sea-Watch 3 disembarked the 47 rescued migrants on board at Catania (Sicily) on 31 January. While the vessel was awaiting permission to disembark, the UK Government both engaged with Italian officials and authorities and, through its local Honorary Consul, contacted the vessel to ensure that the four British nationals amongst the crew knew how to seek consular assistance if required.