Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions (a) she and (b) her officials have had with Chinese counterparts on the suspension of all direct flights from the UK to China by the Chinese authorities.

The UK Government recognises the importance of people-to-people links with China and is fully aware of the impact of the suspension of direct flights has on the business, academia and tourism sectors, as well as those separated from family and friends. The Department for Transport, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been working together to seek agreement from the Chinese Government to allow the resumption of direct scheduled passenger services. We have raised this in Beijing and London at the highest levels.