Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP 

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 

Department of Health & Social Care 

Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries Unit 

39 Victoria Street 

London, SW1H 0EU 

Dear Secretary of State,

International travel advice for non-cohabiting couples 

I have been contacted by a number of constituents who have been unable to visit their partners, or have experienced long periods of separation, throughout the pandemic due to their being in transnational relationships. Many have written to me to speak of the heartache, mental health issues and other problems this has caused them.  

While I fully support and understand the need to travel bans, restrictions and hotel quarantines, I do wonder if there could be more guidance and assistance offered to people in these situations.  

The campaign group Love is Not Tourism has shown that these separations are causing significant mental health issues, with 87% of respondents being worried about their mental health, with many experiencing anxiety, sleep issues and depression as a result.  

I am writing to ask what considerations could be made for transnational couples, so that they are not so heavily impacted by future lockdowns and travel bans. While we must do everything, we can to protect against the virus, it is vital that people are still able to carry on with relationships too.  

I look forward to hearing from you soon.  

Sincerely,

Fleur Anderson 

Labour Member of Parliament for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields 

Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office 

House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA