Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to return home British citizens trapped in places where (a) the British embassy is closed, (b) commercial flights are not available, (c) consular services cannot be accessed, (d) they have no access to hotels and (e) they are subject to curfews that prohibit them accessing required travel facilities.

As Parliament rose earlier than planned and the first day for answer of this PQ was after the Easter recess, due to the pace of developments during the COVID-19 crisis, I submitted a response by email on 2 April, with the following response. The Table Office have agreed this approach.

Posts are continuing to carry out essential work including providing 24/7 consular assistance and support to British people overseas. International travel is becoming more difficult with the closure of land borders and further restrictions, such as on freedom of movement, are being introduced daily. Foreign and Commonwealth Office teams around the world are working urgently to ensure that governments have sensible plans to enable the return of British and other travellers. British people abroad should keep up to date with our travel advice for the country/territory they are in. We have published advice for British Nationals who do not have immediate departure options available to them: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus#if-youre-abroad-and-you-want-to-return-to-the-uk