PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Holidays Abroad: Repayments (25 January 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what (a) advice and (b) support his Department provides to people who incurred a financial loss by cancelling travel plans as a result of following government advice in February 2016 to consult a medical professional before travelling to areas where there were Zika outbreaks.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

With the National Travel Health Network and Centre, Public Health England has developed and issued advice on Zika for all travellers (particularly pregnant women) travelling to areas with a risk of Zika virus transmission. This includes recommending an individual risk assessment with a health professional prior to travel. Changes to Zika guidance are regularly communicated by the National Travel Health Network and Centre and Public Health England to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) who then update their webpages accordingly.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) does not play an active role in providing advice and support to people who cancel travel plans as a result of following advice issue by Public Health England, the National Travel Health Network and Centre or the FCO. BEIS fund Citizens Advice to provide the Consumer Service helpline with delivers practical advice on a broad range of consumer issues and refers appropriate cases to the relevant local Trading Standards. Travellers who cancelled bookings following medical advice should check the terms of any insurance they had regarding the cancellation of their travel arrangements. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects consumers against unfair contract terms, including disproportionate termination fees.

Answered by:
Margot James (Conservative)
1 February 2017