Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to assist British seafarers stranded overseas as a result of the covid-19 outbreak to return to the UK.

The British Government's position on welfare was reiterated to the International Labour Organisation and International Maritime Organisation at the start of this crisis, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards for our seafarers. Where vessel operators request assistance to repatriate their employees, the British Government stands ready to work as quickly as possible to help those who may need rapid consular assistance.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for Transport continue to work closely to ensure the safety and wellbeing of British national crew members. Operators are repatriating non-essential Crew and we have recently supported in country to ensure crew are able to disembark in Europe and the US.