Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to ensure that people stranded in India are able to return after the conclusion of the covid-19 repatriation flights on 15 May 2020; and what steps he is taking to include in those plans people who have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working around the clock, through our Posts overseas and in London, to make sure all British people who need help are receiving the support and information they need. We have brought home over 32,000 people on 153 flights organised by the Foreign Office from 29 countries and territories. As of 19 May, we have brought home over 14,900 people from 11 locations in India on over 64 charter flights.

While there are currently no?further flights?scheduled, we will keep this under review and continue to assess both demand for flights and the situation in India. Following the completion of the latest phase of flights on May 15, our consular teams are supporting British travellers who have not been able to fly?for a?range?of reasons.

We are seeking to help vulnerable non-British UK residents with indefinite leave to remain (ILR) where possible. This goes beyond what we usually do, since our consular assistance is for UK nationals. However, recognising the exceptional challenge of COVID-19 and that many people who call the UK home want to get back, we are seeking to help vulnerable people with ILR wherever possible so long as they have lived in the UK within the last year.

The Indian Government has announced that British travellers in India wishing to return to the UK will also be able to book seats on their outbound flights from India to the UK being utilised to repatriate people back to India. British travellers are encouraged to subscribe to the UK's travel advice updates for India to receive the latest information on return flights: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/return-to-the-uk