Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to seek compensation from the government of China for British victims of COVID-19.
Clearly there are questions that need to be answered about the origin and spread of the virus, not least so we can ensure we are better prepared for future pandemics. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that we want to see a full and robust international investigation to understand why the outbreak happened, why it was not stopped earlier and what can be done to manage any outbreak in the future. It must be open, transparent and rigorous to ensure the right lessons are learned.
China is a leading member of the international community and it has to be part of the solution to any major global problem we face, including ensuring we do not face another devastating global health crisis.