Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate the return to the UK of those British citizens stranded abroad due to the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic. [T]

British travellers who need and want to return to the UK is one of the Government's highest priorities. Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work to keep vital routes open. Since the Foreign Secretary announced £75m to support repatriation efforts on 30 March, the Government has so far delivered a programme of over 183 charter flights from where commercial options are no longer viable. These flights have brought?over 37,700?people from?52?countries and territories, back to UK airports in the East Midlands, London and Manchester. We have also supported repatriation of more than 19,000 British passengers from cruise ships.

Our consular team continues to work around the clock to provide support, advice and information. The situation is fast moving, and our advice at this time is for British nationals to secure safe accommodation and to speak to their tour operator, airline and or insurance company to discuss the options available to them. We are working intensively with the governments of those countries that have closed their borders to people travelling to and from the UK, to enable airlines to bring British nationals home.