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Question
Can you confirm whether any British nationals have been injured or killed in the conflict and will there be a full post-mortem investigation?
Minister reply
We do not yet have accurate information on casualties among UK citizens. We are doing everything we can to evacuate all those who wish to leave before the ceasefire ends at midnight local time.
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Question
What assurances can you give that UK nationals are being prioritised in the evacuation over foreign nationals?
Minister reply
We have been notifying British nationals registered with us about the evacuation flights and we are allocating seats based on vulnerability. We will continue to do our utmost to ensure that as many Britons as possible can leave before the ceasefire expires.
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Question
What is the Foreign Secretary doing in relation to the UN Security Council resolution on this situation?
Minister reply
We are working closely with our international partners including within the United Nations system. We support all diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace and ending the violence.
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Question
Will you be able to give more regular updates on this situation in Sudan?
Minister reply
We are committed to keeping the House updated regularly as we respond to the evolving crisis.
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Question
How will the British Government support those who have left Sudan but do not return home due to safety concerns?
Minister reply
We are working with our diplomatic missions in the countries where UK nationals have arrived to provide consular assistance as required. We remain committed to supporting Britons throughout this challenging period.
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Question
What steps will be taken to ensure that those who are left in Sudan after the evacuation can receive humanitarian aid?
Minister reply
We continue to work with our international partners and humanitarian organisations to provide assistance to those affected by the conflict. Our primary focus remains on evacuating British nationals.
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Question
Lammy thanked James Cleverly for his statement and acknowledged the efforts of military personnel and FCDO staff. He expressed concern over the challenges faced by UK nationals in Sudan, particularly regarding communication difficulties and the number of British citizens yet to evacuate despite the ongoing evacuation operation. Lammy also questioned why other countries evacuated nationals immediately while the UK did not, as well as raised concerns over the scrapping of Hercules aircraft used in previous airlifts.
Minister reply
James Cleverly acknowledged the challenges of communication and the difficulty of accurately assessing the number of British citizens remaining in Sudan. He stated that they are pushing for a ceasefire extension but cannot guarantee its success. The Minister also addressed concerns about embassy staffing during the crisis, explaining that there is a well-established chain of command and replacement process. On the use of Hercules aircraft, Cleverly noted that newer models will replace them.
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Question
Kearns expressed gratitude to the Foreign Office staff and urged for responsible journalism concerning civil servants. She raised concerns about the criteria for evacuation, particularly regarding elderly dependents who should be treated similarly to children. The MP highlighted a specific case of an NHS doctor unable to evacuate due to restrictions on taking his mother along.
Minister reply
James Cleverly thanked Alicia Kearns for her support and acknowledged the importance of responsible journalism. He recognised the complexity of extending evacuation criteria but emphasised the primary duty to British nationals and traditionally recognised dependents. The Minister stated that they will review all options to be as supportive as possible, depending on whether the ceasefire holds and their ability to continue evacuations.
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Question
The MP thanked the Foreign Secretary for his statement, commending the performance of those facilitating evacuations. However, he expressed concern over reliance on hope rather than action as time is running out. He asked about safe legal routes for Sudanese refugees and inquired about plans to safeguard people fleeing to neighboring countries.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that they are one of only three nations with an airhead near Khartoum, facilitating evacuations despite uncertainty post-ceasefire. He mentioned the establishment of safe and legal routes as part of efforts to control illegal migration, though details remain unclear. The Minister also stated ongoing alignment with the African Union to prevent regional instability.
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Question
The MP thanked the Government for their actions in Sudan so far and asked if the UK is indeed the fourth-largest recipient of individuals from Sudan through UNHCR routes, confirming that these routes will remain open as long as feasible.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that since the Conservative government came to power, tens of thousands have arrived using safe and legal routes. He stated that legislation recently passed will enhance their ability to establish such routes.
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Question
Acknowledging evacuations already carried out, the MP raised concerns about people being pushed into dangerous situations due to visa processing delays. She cited an example of a constituent's partner waiting for over a year and now in Uganda.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged these issues and expressed gratitude to Border Force and Home Office staff working diligently with officials from multiple departments to facilitate evacuations.
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Question
Praising the Foreign Secretary's progress, the MP asked about actions being taken to enable citizens to leave Sudan by road or sea.
Minister reply
The Minister highlighted safety concerns with giving granular advice on routes and mentioned existing diplomatic presence in various border points for facilitation.
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Question
Inquiring about those visiting Sudan on refugee travel documents, the MP asked for an estimate of processing times for people waiting for papers from the consulate in Sudan.
Minister reply
The Minister noted that visa processing is a Home Office function but confirmed close co-ordination with FCDO officials. He stated they would continue to facilitate family reunion visas where appropriate.
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Question
Expressing thanks for the evacuation efforts, the MP asked about steps to galvanise international support through the African Union to end the conflict.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed ongoing actions in parallel with evacuation options, emphasising regional influence of immediate neighbours and pushing for peace to prevent spillover into nearby countries.
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Question
Thanking the Foreign Secretary for updates on evacuations, the MP raised concerns about people in a predicament similar to his constituent's case, where someone has been waiting 15 months for documentation to join their spouse.
Minister reply
The Minister reiterated that visa processing is primarily a Home Office function but acknowledged close co-ordination with FCDO. He stated they would continue facilitating family reunion visas when appropriate.
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Question
Thanking the Foreign Secretary for the statement, the MP inquired about the use of ships to evacuate people from Port Sudan and elsewhere.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that a Royal Navy vessel has been diverted towards Port Sudan as a pre-emptive measure. He stated it would serve for command and control and protective purposes rather than ferrying evacuees.
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Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Question
I just want to put it on record how refreshing it is to see a Secretary of State appear to make a statement himself. I do hope that other Departments can follow his lead. There has been a puzzling story, put around by German politicians, that in some way our rescue efforts have hampered their own attempts to extract their own citizens. Secondly, there is a story that our soldiers did not have permission to land in Sudan. Could the Secretary of State throw any light on those stories?
Minister reply
I can assure the House that I have a very productive bilateral relationship with my German opposite number. We speak regularly and have been in pretty constant text communication throughout this operation. None of the concerns raised in the press have been directly raised with me, but from regular conversations with the Defence Secretary, it is not his understanding that at any point we flew without permissions or had a negative knock-on effect on others.
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Question
I am sure we all share the deepest concern for the people of Sudan who are suffering this unfolding tragedy. What is the Foreign Office doing to facilitate and work with the Egyptian Government to ensure that British and other international citizens stuck on the land border with Egypt can traverse that land border and seek safety?
Minister reply
I remain in regular contact with my Egyptian opposite number and have spoken directly a number of times during this operation. We are in regular text communication as well, and I plan to speak to him again at some point in the near future to discuss issues including facilitating border crossings for those seeking safety.
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Question
Can I ask whether the Foreign Office is considering reviewing the eligibility criteria and, in particular, whether any consideration has been given to Sudanese passport holders who have entry clearance to the UK, be they students or other individuals, and whether there is any capacity to evacuate those individuals as well?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and for his praise of the work done on this operation. We will look at criteria under review to ensure we are able to discharge our duty to support British nationals. However, changing eligibility criteria would need to be non-discriminatory and could create an unsustainable degree of demand for evacuations.
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Question
Has the Foreign Secretary had any conversations with the Home Secretary about establishing safe and legal routes in the light of this particular crisis, and given the vote last night on the Illegal Migration Bill?
Minister reply
Let me point out that Sudan is not the only conflict zone in the world. The Bill contains an explicit commitment to establishing safe and legal routes in parallel with ensuring that those arriving illegally are administered quickly, fairly and efficiently.
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Question
Reports have shown that people operating fake Twitter accounts are impersonating key players in this conflict. What consideration has been given to the role that social media plays in spreading misinformation about this conflict?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady raises an incredibly important point regarding the frustration of proactively and intentionally dishonest messaging. The passage of information is difficult, and if it goes wrong or is manipulated by bad faith actors, it could put British nationals and others in enhanced danger.
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Question
May I have some real clarity from the Foreign Secretary about people who are not British nationals but who are nevertheless in the position of one of my constituents? My constituent has been working for Public Health Wales for the last two years and living in my constituency, and they went to Sudan to celebrate Eid with their family. They are now trapped there and being told that they will not get help from the British Government enabling them to return. Is this policy, and can it be changed forthwith?
Minister reply
The eligibility criteria have been part of our travel advice throughout this situation. We cannot expand the criteria just for those mentioned by Members. To do so could substantially and unsustainably increase the number of people to whom we have given the implication that we could evacuate them.
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Question
Will he confirm that he is working with the Home Office, as a matter of urgency, to establish a consistent and humane approach to those who do not have the requisite travel documents? That includes babies born recently, spouses in the process of applying for visas, and people who live here and are on holiday in Sudan.
Minister reply
It is inevitable that comparisons will be made between this operation and the evacuation from Kabul, but they are fundamentally different. The operation we have conducted is one of the three framework nations who have facilitated the operation from Wadi Saeedna, which has allowed the French, German, British and others to airlift people out.
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Question
The MP thanks the Secretary of State for his leadership and raises concerns about UK nationals potentially left behind due to poor mobile phone contact or unavailability of embassy staff after a ceasefire. He asks what will be done to protect those who could not leave in time.
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that Wadi Saeedna airbase is one of the preferred options for evacuation and commits the UK to being part of the framework nations facilitating its use. However, he emphasises the difficulty of making commitments beyond the ceasefire duration and stresses efforts towards ensuring its continuation. He also mentions other routes out via borders or Port Sudan for those who could not leave using the airbase.
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Question
The MP inquires about the plan regarding NHS doctors denied passage on evacuation flights and expresses concern for British nationals, especially children, remaining in Sudan. She asks how many such children there are and what will be done to maintain food and water supplies and ensure their safe return.
Minister reply
The Minister explains that it is impossible for any government to accurately determine the number of its nationals abroad due to lack of registration requirements for British citizens overseas. He mentions efforts made through various channels to communicate about evacuation options, including the availability of an airbase. The Minister assures that children and dependants of British nationals will be airlifted out, with alternative exit strategies in place if the airbase option is unavailable.