Shabana has written to the Foreign Secretary regarding the inclusion of Pakistan and Bangladesh on the “red list” for international travel.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are due to be added to the “red list” from 9 April, refusing entry to international visitors who have travelled from or through those countries in the previous 10 days. In addition, British or Irish passport holders must quarantine for 10 days.

In her letter, Shabana has raised concerns that other countries in the South Asian continent with higher Covid-19 case rates have not been added to the red list.

You can read the letter in full below.

Letter to the Foreign Secretary

Dear Foreign Secretary

I am writing regarding the designation of Pakistan and Bangladesh as “red list” countries.

Pakistan and Bangladesh are due to be added to the “red list” from 9 April, refusing entry to international visitors who have travelled from or through those countries in the previous 10 days. In addition, British or Irish passport holders must quarantine for 10 days.

Representing a constituency where a large number are of British-Pakistani and British-Bangladeshi backgrounds, I am writing to share my concern about the decision-making process leading to this decision and the resulting impact on my constituents.

The latest decision to add Pakistan and Bangladesh to the “red list” was not published alongside any substantial reasoning for their inclusion. Many countries that have not made the list, including countries in the region such as India, have higher case rates per 100,000 than those recently added to the list. Indeed, since the introduction of the “red list” for travel many questions have been raised in parliament regarding qualification to be added to the list, yet no Minister has been forthcoming with answers or methodology. This is completely unacceptable and treats my constituents who have legitimate reasons for international travel with contempt.

My constituents rightly want the Government’s decisions on “red list” countries to be led by the science, to be transparent, and for a fair methodology to be consistently applied.

Therefore, could you outline what reasoning exists for adding Pakistan and Bangladesh to the “red list” for travel whilst omitting countries with much higher case rates. I would also be grateful if you could share with me details of the ongoing criteria and process by which countries are added to and removed from the list.

I look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely

Shabana Mahmood MP

Birmingham Ladywood