Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the ability of consular services to evolve to meet the needs of British Citizens since the UK left the EU.
Answered by Nigel Adams
Consular assistance is the FCDO's most important public service. Consular assistance continues to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world, by phone, online and via social media.
Since the beginning of negotiations with the EU, the FCDO has prioritised delivering consular support to UK nationals living in and travelling to the EU, with the objective of reducing preventable consular cases. The FCDO has a network of consular staff based in 21 embassies across Europe, covering 30 of the 31 EU and EFTA states, who work closely with Member States and the European Commission, to ensure the Withdrawal Agreement is correctly applied, and there is clear and appropriate information for UK nationals. The Government is running an information campaign to prepare UK nationals for changes to travel, and for accessing citizens' rights for those living in the EU. The UK Nationals Support Fund is also providing up to £3m of grant funding to third party organisations to support UK nationals in the EU who may face challenges in securing rights.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether children with one parent living abroad are permitted to travel internationally during the period of covid-19 lockdown restrictions announced in January 2021.
Answered by Nigel Adams
All individuals should follow the stay at home advice and should only leave home to travel internationally - or within the UK - when they have a legally permitted reason to leave home. Individuals should check the guidance for their personal circumstances before considering any travel, as well as any entry requirements in the destination country. The Department of Health and Social Care, or the relevant health ministry in the devolved administrations, oversee domestic COVID-19 health restrictions. Further guidance on international travel can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#international-travel.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether visiting someone in your support bubble is included among the permitted reasons to travel internationally during the period of covid-19 lockdown restrictions announced in January 2021.
Answered by Nigel Adams
All individuals should follow the stay at home advice and should only leave home to travel internationally - or within the UK - when they have a legally permitted reason to leave home. Individuals should check the guidance for their personal circumstances before considering any travel, as well as any entry requirements in the destination country. The Department of Health and Social Care, or the relevant health ministry in the devolved administrations, oversee domestic COVID-19 health restrictions. Further guidance on international travel can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#international-travel.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether childcare support is included among the permitted reasons to travel internationally during the period of covid-19 lockdown restrictions announced in January 2021.
Answered by Nigel Adams
All individuals should follow the stay at home advice and should only leave home to travel internationally - or within the UK - when they have a legally permitted reason to leave home. Individuals should check the guidance for their personal circumstances before considering any travel, as well as any entry requirements in the destination country. The Department of Health and Social Care, or the relevant health ministry in the devolved administrations, oversee domestic COVID-19 health restrictions. Further guidance on international travel can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#international-travel.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government is providing to India in response to of the Kerala Floods in July 2018.
Answered by Mark Field
It was heart-breaking to see reports of so much loss of life and so many made homeless by flooding across Kerala. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have been in touch with local authorities in Kerala and continue to follow events in the region.
The existing policy of India’s Foreign Ministry is to meet requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. However, the UK aid-supported START Fund is in operation to help Non-Governmental Organisations respond to the situation, and the British Government stands ready to assist further if required. Moreover, Oxfam UK are responding in parts of Kerala and our Deputy High Commission staff have personally donated cash, food and clothing to the relief effort.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the Myanmar military to allow the safe, monitored and dignified return of the Rohingya people.
Answered by Mark Field
The Foreign Secretary met Burmese State Counsellor Aung Sun Suu Kyi on 12 February and made clear that the Burmese authorities, including the military, must allow Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine voluntarily, in safety and with dignity. The UK Ambassador to Burma met Minister for the Office of State Counsellor U Kyaw Tint Swe on 5 April and called on Burma to agree a Memorandum of Understanding that allows the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to monitor the returns process to ensure it meets international standards. The UK will use the UN Security Council’s visit to Burma and Bangladesh at the end of April to ensure the Burmese military recognises the international demand for safe, monitored and dignified refugee returns.