South Asia: Coronavirus

(asked on 5th May 2020) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of those UK nationals who had registered by 19 April 2020 to return to the UK from (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Bangladesh were categorised as vulnerable by Corporate Travel Management; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 11th May 2020

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are priorities for the UK Government and we have been working closely with the government of each country and airlines to ensure British nationals can return home. We cannot provide an accurate figure for those currently registered for Her Majesty's Government charter flights because many passengers have registered more than once, have already returned by commercial flights or no longer want to return to the UK.

We reserve as many seats as possible on all flights for the most vulnerable British nationals - these are our top priority. We will continue working to bring British nationals back to the UK where commercial options do not exist, focusing on the most vulnerable. We are still working through future plans, identifying where needs are greatest, and where charter flights will have the greatest impact on vulnerable British nationals overseas.

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