Over a month ago the Foreign Secretary announced a programme of repatriation flights to bring home the many UK nationals stranded abroad, yet I am still assisting many constituents who the Government have not helped to return home.
This is not acceptable, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the welfare of those stuck abroad and have written to the Foreign Secretary again to ask that he ensure they are brought home as soon as possible.
” Dear Foreign Secretary
I am writing to you again following my previous letter of 26 March concerning a number of my constituents who are still trapped overseas as a results of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Whilst I appreciate the reply from the Minister and the additional financial support announced on 30 March, over one month later it is clear that this has not been enough.
Despite my constituents doing everything that has been asked of them by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Consulate Services, many of them are still anxiously checking their phones every day in the hope that they will be able to book their place on a flight back home.
Constituents are contacting me because they are stuck in India, Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh and The Gambia. Some were due back home on flights that were cancelled six weeks ago, some have little of no money left and are in urgent need of medication, all desperately want to be back home with their loved one at this difficult time.
You told us that the most vulnerable would be prioritised for return flights home. Yet I have constituents in their 70’s and 80’s with health conditions, urgently requiring medication that still have no idea when they will be able to return to their families. All the while, they have had to watch as other nations flew their citizens back home weeks ago.
The Government’s lacklustre approach to helping our own naitonals return home has been shameful. I hope you will now redouble your efforts to bring home my consituents and all the UK nationals that are still stranded abroad.
Yours sincerely
Wes Streeting”