Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Middle East: British Nationals

Tuesday 24 June 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • British nationals in Israel are advised to consult travel advice for safe departure options.
  • Fuel shortages and closed airspace in Iran are making it difficult for British citizens to leave.
  • Consular assistance for British nationals in Iran is currently very limited due to restrictions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lewis Atkinson Lab Sunderland Central
Foreign Affairs
Context

British nationals are concerned about their safety and need guidance on how to leave conflict zones safely. Some have been advised to travel via Egypt, but there are reports that such journeys may be unsafe.

Question

British nationals in Israel, including the daughter of my constituents, remain concerned about their safety. The advice has been for British citizens to make their way to Egypt via the border, but there have been some reports that the Israeli Government have suggested those journeys would be unsafe. Can the Minister clarify the travel advice for British citizens in that situation?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

Travel advice is the best source of advice for British nationals in Israel. There are options for leaving by land, as my hon. Friend’s constituents are aware. There are now options for leaving by air as well, but, as he and the whole House will understand, the flow of flights out of Israel remains limited. British nationals in Israel will want to make their own judgments about whether they want to wait for a flight or make a land journey, and my officials are available to advise every constituent on the options before them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific safety advice regarding travel by land, only noting that it is an option but with limited guidance.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Josh Babarinde Lib Dem Eastbourne
Foreign Affairs
Context

Two constituents are in Tehran and face challenges such as fuel shortages, long queues, poor internet access, and closed airspace which make it difficult to leave the country.

Question

Two of my constituents are currently in Tehran, but they say that fuel shortages, long queues and poor internet access, as well as closed airspace, have made it almost impossible for them to leave Iran. They urgently need clear guidance, they need a way to formally register their presence, and they need consular support, which they are struggling to access. Will the Minister urgently meet me to ensure that my constituents get the assistance they need from the Government to come home safely to Eastbourne?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

I am, of course, very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman. The whole House knows that we have advised against all travel to Iran for some time, and we have been clear that our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is very limited for those reasons, particularly given the temporary withdrawal of our embassy. We would encourage those in Iran to be in touch with the Foreign Office, and we will provide what advice and support we can.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not commit to providing specific assistance or a formal registration process for British nationals in Tehran, only stating that they would try to provide advice and support.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email