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 ensure that the US Centre for Disease Control allow British seafarers to travel through US airspace.

The UK Government's position on welfare was reiterated to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at the start of this crisis, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards for our seafarers. Officials continue to work closely with the Centre for Disease Control to allow the disembarkation of British crew from cruise ships across the United States.

Where vessel operators request assistance to repatriate their employees, we stand ready to work as quickly as possible to help those who may need rapid consular assistance. This includes regular contact at the highest levels with our US partners on our joint response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.