Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have offered to the governments of (1) South Africa, and (2) other African countries, in view of the economic impact of being placed on the UK's COVID-19 travel red list.
Through our bilateral programmes, and the UK's important role working through the International Financial Institutions, we are helping governments and businesses in both South Africa and across the continent to access affordable financing and advice; and establish safety nets to support the most vulnerable. In April 2021, the UK, with other G20 countries, extended its suspension of debt service repayments for the poorest countries to the end of 2021. The travel red list was a short term measure in direct response to the latest scientific and medical data showing an increased risk to UK public health. The measures ended at 4am on Wednesday 15th December.