Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to facilitate the safe return of UK Nationals on the Coral Princess during the covid-19 outbreak.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, we have worked hard to support British nationals aboard cruise ships. Over 350 British passengers and crew members aboard the Coral Princess returned to the UK on three separate charter flights - two flights on 6 April and one on the 9 April - organised by the cruise company, and British Airways. The FCO worked closely with the cruise company and partners across Whitehall, including the Department for Transport, Public Health England, the Department for Health and Social Care and Border Force to ensure British nationals were safely repatriated to the UK.

Upon their return, the cruise company organised private transport for those who did not have family members to collect them, and they were also advised to self-isolate for 14 days in line with advice from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England.

Of the four remaining British passengers who were not fit to travel on the repatriation flights, one has was discharged from hospital on 15 April and will shortly be repatriated to the UK. Three remain in hospital in Miami and are receiving consular support from the British Consulate General.