Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what basis the decision was made to publish advice on his Department's website that British citizens stranded abroad during the covid-19 pandemic should crowdfund if they could not afford to travel back to the UK.

I was pleased to meet with the Honourable Lady on 19th October to discuss the FCDO's consular work.

Advice on financial assistance for British Nationals abroad is longstanding and sets out all possible options British nationals may explore given the FCDO is not funded to provide financial assistance. We have recently reinforced to consular staff that while individuals may choose to crowdfund this is not an option we require them to explore before they seek an emergency loan to return home.