PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Consular assistance for British nationals (20 April 2020)

That this House recommends clarifying the guidance around consular assistance and enshrining in law the right to consular assistance at a time when thousands of British nationals are stranded overseas during the outbreak of covid-19; recognises that currently there is no legal right to consular assistance for British nationals including those who are stranded, imprisoned or who die overseas; further recognises the current guidance around who will qualify for consular assistance is based on discretion; notes that the guidance that assessments of vulnerability are made on the basis of ‘the needs you have, based on who you are, where you are and your situation’ is vague and confusing; further notes the work that has been undertaken to clarify this guidance by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance as detailed in its October 2019 report entitled Why families in the UK deserve better and what can be done; notes the aims of the British Rights Abroad Group petitioning the Government to make consular assistance a clear legal right; acknowledges the detrimental effect on British nationals who learn in their hour of need that they are not legally entitled to consular assistance from the Government; further notes the millions of British people who are currently stranded around the world due to covid-19 who may or may not be assisted in getting home; and urges the Government to act now on enshrining a legal right to consular assistance.

Sponsored by:
Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party)