Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure British citizens on MS Zaandam receive (a) a medical assessment, (b) reimbursement for medical care (c) continuous communication with (i) the FCO and (ii) their families and (d) travel home to the UK; and if he will make representations to his counterparts in countries near the cruise ship to ensure the safe care of those citizens during a covid-19 quarantine period.

Following the change to date for answer of this PQ, I submitted a response by email on 27 March, with the following response. The Table Office have agreed this approach.

We are monitoring the situation of MS Zaandam. We have engaged with the relevant authorities to request permission to allow the transfer of goods and medical equipment, and to offload asymptomatic passengers, and fly them out on charter flights. We have asked cruise companies to arrange flights if successful. On 26 March, Minister Morton raised our concerns with the Chairman of the cruise company.