“The UK Government is firmly committed to supporting the Overseas Territories in dealing with Covid-19,” Parliamentary Under-Secretary Wendy Morton said when asked about the kind of support that the UK Government is providing to help the UK Overseas Territories respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Hansard of the UK Parliament’s session on May 4th, Labour/Co-Operative MP Stephen Doughty asked the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, “what support the Government is providing to help the UK Overseas Territories respond to the [a] health, [b] economic, [c] logistical and [d] transport effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
In response, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Wendy Morton said, “The UK Government is firmly committed to supporting the Overseas Territories in dealing with Covid-19. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development are leading a cross Whitehall effort, working closely with the Overseas Territories governments.
“The Minister for the Overseas Territories and Sustainable Development is in regular contact with the political leaders and Governors of the Territories. The impact of the pandemic in the Territories varies, and our support is being calibrated accordingly.
“In the areas where it is needed, we are providing support to strengthen territories’ public health systems, through provision of essential medical supplies, equipment and personnel.
“We are also working with partners to maintain lifeline transport routes. The Government has organised flights to enable British nationals to return to the UK from the Overseas Territories, and to enable a number of British nationals in the UK to return to their homes in the territories. The flights also carried medical equipment to the territories.
“Just as the UK is doing, we are looking to Overseas Territories to make full use of their financial resources in order to address the needs of their people. Requests for further support to complement comprehensive local economic response plans are being considered on a needs basis.
“In the Territories which are in receipt of financial assistance from DFID, the UK Government will continue to provide the support needed to ensure delivery of essential services and to protect their economies.”
