Mr Bryant inquired about the number of British nationals who have been evacuated and asked if the Government had a capacity limit for repatriating British nationals, and if so, what that limit is.

Mr Grewal sought clarity on the impact of the crisis on British nationals in the region and requested details on the measures taken to ensure their safety and well-being.

Mr Bristow questioned the Government's commitment to defending UK interests in the region and asked for assurance that the UK's allies and partners are being adequately supported.

Ms Mahmood inquired about the support available for British nationals who are unable to return home due to airspace restrictions and asked for an update on the Government's efforts to secure safe routes.

Priti Patel expressed her criticism of the Iranian regime and questioned the UK Government's preparedness and response to the crisis, highlighting the need for urgent action to repatriate British nationals and strengthen defences in the region. She also raised concerns about diplomatic relations and the need for emergency legislation.

Emily Thornberry criticised the tone of the Opposition's response and requested clarity on the conversation with the Iranian ambassador and the Foreign Office's presence at Muscat airport. She highlighted a constituent's experience and suggested clearer identification for British officials at the airport.

The illegal war started by Trump and Netanyahu has now engulfed the entire Middle East, and Iran’s reckless retaliation against our partners in the region is putting British lives at risk. There are 300,000 Britons still in the region, yet only 140,000—less than half—have registered with the Government. For families in my constituency of Esher and Walton and across the country who have relatives in the region, the uncertainty is agonising. Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to encourage more Britons to register their location? Will he also update the House on what contact the Government have had with Lindsay and Craig Foreman, who remain imprisoned in Iran? What steps are being taken to confirm their safety and wellbeing? Even as the Government’s immediate focus must be on protecting and repatriating UK citizens in the region, I pay tribute to the officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office who are working so hard on this. We cannot, however, ignore what appear to be catastrophic errors in the Government’s readiness for this crisis. The Minister says that this is a consular challenge on the scale of covid, but the Government knew it was coming. With so many signals suggesting that war was potentially imminent, why did the Government not move sooner on preparing repatriation plans for our citizens, or prepare for the defence of our base in Cyprus, with HMS Dragon still sat in Portsmouth?

I came here for this statement on consular assistance to raise issues on behalf of my constituents. Clearly, the Conservatives have nothing to say on behalf of people who are really concerned about the situation in the Middle East. During covid, when flights were cancelled, I remember airlines saying nice things, but the reality for our constituents was different. May I ask my hon. Friend to keep the pressure on the airlines? They will be as nice as pie to him, but when it comes to our constituents—face to face—they will get away with whatever they can. I urge him to keep the pressure on the airlines to deliver for our constituents.

When the last Conservative Government rather bizarrely chose to appoint David Cameron as Foreign Secretary in the upper House, the then Opposition—quite rightly in my view—complained about the fact that this House could not directly question the Foreign Secretary. Does the Minister accept that the problem with Iran is that extremists are in control of the country and have been for 47 years? Is he satisfied that when our destroyer eventually gets out there, it will have enough munitions to put up a reliable defensive screen for more than a relatively short period of time?

I am sure the Minister will agree that it is wrong for companies to profit out of this crisis. I have been hearing from constituents in the region who say exorbitant prices are being charged for airfares, which they cannot afford, and for hotels, which they cannot afford to stay in any longer. Can he put pressure on the industry to enable those constituents to come back, particularly as some of their travel insurance has run out?

I appreciate everything the Minister has said and thank him for the information on this, but in his statement, he did not mention the many thousands of British citizens affected in places outwith the Gulf. I have constituents in Sri Lanka who cannot get home, and they have said that they cannot get any consular assistance at the moment because they are not vulnerable and are not in any danger. For people in other parts of the world who will now incur massive costs because this is an act of war and insurance companies may not cover them, will he tell us how the Government will support them through consular assistance and help them get home?

My constituent Lisa is stuck in Dubai. She is three months pregnant. She has her 18-month-old son with her. She has medical needs and is running out of vital medication from the UK. Can I have some reassurance from the Dispatch Box for Lisa’s family that she will be prioritised for a flight back home as she is medically vulnerable?

Thanks the Minister and raises concerns about a constituent's 16-year-old daughter in Dubai who has been told to travel 400 km to Oman without consular assistance to catch a repatriation flight. Requests for the Minister to look into providing the right consular support for minors.

Thanks the Minister and raises two issues: 1) Guidance on what is considered 'vulnerable' for travellers, 2) Advice for people going on holidays to countries like Egypt.

Expresses concern about the lack of UK consular support in Iran, especially regarding the situation of Craig and Lindsay Foreman in Evin prison.

Reiterates the importance of individuals with vulnerabilities using the consular helpline to ensure they are prioritised for evacuation flights.

Asks about the decision not to send a ship to the Mediterranean as part of pre-emptive measures before the conflict.

Inquires about the work being done with airlines to prioritise based on need and vulnerability for constituents in Dubai.

Concerned about vulnerable people with health conditions, including those with heart conditions running out of medication.

Asks about prioritisation for a constituent with a type 1 diabetes who is running out of insulin, and access to medical support.

A statement on consular assistance is no time for party political attacks. I am pleased to report to the Minister that Cameron, who was stuck in a hospital in Dubai, is now back home safe in London. However, Donna, a constituent with health conditions and medication needs, has attempted to board six flights from the UAE back to London but each has been cancelled. She has run out of medication and cannot get it or an alternative in the UAE. What can the Minister do to support her in getting an alternative to her medication and to get her back home safely?

As someone with family living in the UAE for a number of years, I know how worrying it is for many families here and there. A constituent was on his way to transit in Kuwait and found that Kuwait Airways is no longer paying for his accommodation and is providing very little help. What more could he be doing, and what more could I be doing to support him? What other support is available to him? What work are we doing with the commercial airlines to ensure they are providing the right support to people like my constituent?

I thank the Minister for his answers and his Department. I have some constituents who work for Bombardier and were in Malaysia. They were returning home to Northern Ireland via the Middle East but found themselves restricted by the events there and unable to travel. They got home last night, and I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister and his Department. What is being done to make sure that the 138,000 British people registered in the Middle East are safe until they can get home?

I associate myself with the Minister’s condolences to the families of those killed and thank him for his statement, his tone, and for summoning the Iranian ambassador yesterday. My constituent and his family from Newcastle-under-Lyme are stuck because their flights through the Middle East have been cancelled twice. The next available flight is on 24 March, with hotel bills of about £1,000 a night for almost three weeks. May I urge him to go further and much faster in ensuring that airlines and agents do not leave people in the lurch, do not take advantage, and do not let them down?

I thank the Minister for his statement. May I invite him to join me in paying tribute to the pilots and other service personnel based at RAF Marham in my constituency? It was the F-35s based there that were engaged in action this week to protect British citizens and support our allies.

My thoughts are with British citizens in the Gulf. Those on the Opposition Front Bench yesterday and today have used careless, aggressive and disrespectful language in this Chamber, and I imagine they are doing so in order to wrap themselves in the cloak of national security patriotism. Does my hon. Friend agree that this use of language actually undermines national security, because it suggests that this House is divided on such an important issue? I would like to pay tribute to his diplomats, our incredibly brave armed forces and other civil servants in this country who are dealing with this crisis. As they deal with it, they would benefit from a united House of Commons.