PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Caribbean: Coronavirus (11 May 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of British citizens still awaiting repatriation to the UK from countries in the Caribbean region due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Asked by:
Fabian Hamilton (Labour)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working around the clock, through our Posts overseas and in London, to make sure all British people who need help are receiving the support and information they need. We have now brought home nearly 31,000 people on 144 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 27 countries and territories.

The welfare of British nationals remains our top priority, and we remain committed to ensuring that British travellers around the globe are able to return home. The UK Government is working closely with airlines, local authorities and governments in the Caribbean region to help British travellers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary on 30 March - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights from priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers. On 8 May, we brought back more than 300 people from Jamaica and Guyana on charter flights organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We have supported nearly 11,000 to return home from the Caribbean via commercial means.

We are aware that there are British nationals remaining overseas in the Caribbean region and our effort is focused on supporting their return as quickly and safely as possible.

Answered by:
Wendy Morton (Conservative)
18 May 2020