Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK Embassy and High Commission staff throughout Africa are unavailable to work at post due to health or logistical effects of the covid-19 pandemic.

In response to the covid-19 pandemic, as of 29 April we have temporarily withdrawn 95 FCO staff, and 235 staff from other Government Departments, from Posts in our Africa network, where the risk warrants it. These staff are continuing to work remotely from outside the country of their deployment, either supporting Post or carrying out wider COVID-19 work. Posts continue to carry out essential work, including providing 24/7 consular assistance and support to British people overseas.