I refer the noble Lord to my previous response.

The threat level to the UK from international terrorism is kept under constant review by the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, whose judgements about the threat level are made on the basis of the very latest reporting and intelligence. This can change at any time as different information becomes available.

The current threat level from international terrorism is judged to be SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.

I refer the noble Lord to my previous response.

The threat level to the UK from international terrorism is kept under constant review by the independent Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre, whose judgements about the threat level are made on the basis of the very latest reporting and intelligence. This can change at any time as different information becomes available.

The current threat level from international terrorism is judged to be SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.

As indicated prior, the threat level to the UK from international terrorism is kept under constant review by the independent Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre, whose judgements about the threat level are made on the basis of the very latest reporting and intelligence. This can change at any time as different information becomes available.

The current threat level from international terrorism is judged to be SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.

The terrorist threat level to the UK is kept under constant review by the independent Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre, whose judgements about the threat level are made on the basis of the very latest intelligence. The current threat level from international terrorism is judged to be SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely.

It is for each country to define the security requirements they need to protect their citizens. We do not comment on the aviation security measures that other countries have in place, nor do we assess other impacts on the current restrictions on flights.

The UK continues to work closely with the Egyptian authorities, sharing aviation security expertise, and we look forward to achieving the return of flights when the situation allows.

The terrorist threat level to the UK is kept under constant review by the independent Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre, whose judgements about the threat level are made on the basis of the very latest intelligence. However, it is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security arrangements.

The Department for Transport conducts expert assessments on aviation security at overseas airports. We do not assess the impact on the tourism and airline industries of any restrictions on flights.

The UK continues to work closely with Egypt, sharing aviation security expertise and we look forward to achieving the return of flights when the situation allows.

As stated in my written answer on 5 November 2018 (HL11004), it is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security matters, including what criteria we use to assess security requirements at airports.

The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing its expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh. We hope to be in a position to resume direct flights when the circumstances are right.

The UK Government continues to work closely with its Egyptian counterparts, sharing its expertise in establishing effective security arrangements at all Egyptian airports including Sharm el-Sheikh.

It is long standing government policy not to comment in detail on security matters. However, we look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security requirements can be sustained.

Department for Transport makes regular assessments of the risk posed to flights inbound to and outbound from the UK. We share the former with the relevant host government, to agree on appropriate security measures, but for obvious reasons do not publish such assessments.

Further to my response on 7 November (HL2559), Department for Transport officials have regularly visited Sharm el Sheikh airport. However, it is long-standing government policy not to publish the detail of aviation security assessments, including the dates of those assessments, for any location for reasons of both security and protecting international relations.

The Department for Transport carries out regular assessments of aviation security at all last points of departure airports to the UK from Egypt. The Government works closely with international partners, including airlines, airports and the Egyptian Government, on security standards. Global aviation security arrangements are kept under constant review. It is the responsibility for each Government to determine their own advice on where it is safe for their citizens or carriers to fly.

We are not aware of any indications to date that the UK and Russian suspension of flights to Sharm el-Sheikh is having a negative impact on the security situation there. We are conscious of the economic impact which flight suspension and the resulting drop in tourism continues to have. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security environment can be sustained. The safety of British nationals is our main concern.

As a former Minister responsible for countering extremism, I can assure the noble Lord that we are very much cognisant of the challenges we face, not just on aviation security. We work very closely, here in the UK and abroad, to ensure that those challenges of counter-radicalisation can be met head on and are working with communities on the ground.

The Government has not yet concluded that it is right to lift the restrictions on direct UK flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh. The security of British nationals is the Government's top priority. Our security experts take account of many factors in providing advice on whether it is safe to fly to certain destinations.

UK aviation security experts have worked closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground, sharing their expertise in establishing effective security arrangements. We continue to work in partnership in a spirit of cooperation, and are grateful for Egypt's close engagement and partnership. We look forward to achieving the return of flights once we can be assured that the necessary security environment can be sustained.

The UK is building ties with Egypt both at the political level and through cooperation and assistance in a number of areas including through work on security, the economy, governance and education. The former Prime Minister (The Right Hon. David Cameron), invited President Sisi to London in November 2015 and the Prime Minister spoke to President Sisi on 3rd of August to discuss future cooperation.

The UK plans to spend £50m from 2016 to 2020 inclusive to support the country’s continued stability, protect ordinary Egyptians, tackle radicalisation and safeguard tourists and British nationals. UK cooperation includes supporting scientific innovation through the seven year £25m Newton Mosharafa fund, funding which will be matched by the Egyptian government. We are also fostering interfaith understanding through the UK – Al Azhar Religious Studies Scholarship which provides opportunities for future religious leaders to undertake doctoral studies in the UK. And we are working closely with the Egyptian authorities to provide technical assistance on financial reform.

The UK and Egypt have a shared interest in the fight against terrorism, and we are committed to working together in a number of areas to combat the terrorist threat. These include aviation security and the protection of tourist resorts. The UK armed forces have also provided their Egyptian counterparts with counter-IED and close protection training. The former Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and Foreign Minister Shoukry signed a Memorandum of Understanding during President Sisi's visit to the UK in November 2015. This committed the Home Office and Egyptian Ministry of Interior to a regular high-level dialogue to increase cooperation across a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration and organised crime.

Prior to the downing of Metrojet 9268, tourism accounted for around 12% of Egypt’s GDP.

The Egyptian Tourist Minister stated in November that flight suspensions following the Metrojet attack have resulted in direct losses estimated at upwards of $280m a month. This figure includes the impact of flight suspensions by a number of countries including Russia, which has suspended flights to the whole of Egypt. 865,000 British nationals visited Egypt in 2015 accounting for around 1% of Egypt’s GDP. British tourists continue to visit Egypt, for example popular resorts such as Hurghada. We expect that our current suspension of direct UK flights to and from Sharm el Sheikh will mean that the overall numbers are significantly lower this year. We are cooperating closely with the Egyptian government on Aviation Security and have agreed a Joint Action Plan to resume flights between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh.

The new parliamentary law, passed by interim President Adly Mansour, includes many changes to the structure of the Egyptian parliament. The law increases the number of parliamentary seats to 567, with 420 seats being elected by single member constituencies and 120 elected through party lists.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the parliamentary elections and the need for political inclusiveness with former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on 14 May. On 3 June, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement urging Egypt’s leaders to ensure that the transition leads towards accountable and democratic governance, underpinned by strong and accountable institutions.

The FCO and DFID support Egypt through the following funds:

1) The Arab Partnership Economic Facility

2) The Arab Partnership Participation Fund, and

3) The Conflict Pool