PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Coronavirus: Disease Control (25 March 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that all NHS trained staff who wish to return from overseas to assist with the covid-19 outbreak in the UK are supported to do so.

Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)

As Parliament rose earlier than planned and the first day for answer of this PQ was after the Easter recess, due to the pace of developments during the COVID-19 crisis, I submitted a response by email on 9 April, with the following response. The Table Office have agreed this approach.

The Foreign Secretary announced on 30 March an important new partnership between the Government and airlines to fly home more stranded British travelers, where commercial routes do not exist. The Government will provide up to £75 million financial support to enable special charter flights to priority countries, operated by airlines including Virgin, Easyjet, Jet 2 and Titan. This service has already begun, with flights earlier this week from Ghana and Tunisia.

Our consular team is working around the clock to provide support, advice and information. We are aware that there are key workers, including NHS trained staff, who are stuck abroad; this highlights the imperative of getting people back.

Answered by:
Nigel Adams (Conservative)
21 April 2020