The Foreign Office is drawing up plans to rescue Britons if they are stranded in Europe because of disruption to flights after Brexit.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs rescue flights were one of a number of emergency procedures being prepared in the event of a "no deal" divorce.

His disclosure comes two days after the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, admitted at an airline industry conference that UK-EU flights could be disrupted after Brexit.

Speaking to the Airport Operators Association, Mr Grayling said: "It is theoretically possible that EASA [European Aviation Safety Agency] could refuse or delay the certification of UK-certified planes."

But he added: "I think it is highly unlikely."


Appearing before the foreign affairs select committee of MPs, Mr Hunt was quizzed on Mr Grayling's warning by the Labour MP Chris Bryant.

Asked by Mr Bryant what planning the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had done for the possibility it might have to rescue people from the EU after Brexit if flights were grounded, Mr Hunt said: "We are very engaged in that process.

"It is one of the no deal work streams that we are responsible for at the FCO. And our posts are absolutely ready for what might happen.

"We have to be honest with the around one million Brits who are resident in the EU.

"We can't give them answers to every single question because in the no deal situation - which obviously we're working very hard to avoid, and we don't think will happen - in that situation, were it to happen, what would happen would be different in different countries.

Image: Jeremy Hunt said he was 'very engaged' in planning

"And so there's no one-size-fits-all answer. We understand that people are worried.

"We very much hope between now and Christmas we can resolve all of this and get a deal that is good for business and consistent with the referendum result."

And the foreign secretary told Mr Bryant: "I think the best way to answer your question is that everything we can do, we are doing."

Mr Bryant also asked about a warning by the immigration minister, Caroline Nokes, 24 hours earlier that UK citizens could have to wait in "rest of the world" queues at European airports in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

"Which passport queues will people use after Brexit on the continent?," Mr Bryant asked the foreign secretary.

Mr Hunt replied: "It's a matter for EU countries."

Image: The immigration minister has said Britons may have to use 'rest of the world' queues

Answering other questions on Brexit from the Labour MP Mike Gapes, Mr Hunt revealed that the Foreign Office would need more diplomats in EU countries after Brexit.

He said he hoped the UK would be invited to take part in EU foreign affairs council meetings "in a different capacity" and that the UK would gain by having "freedom of manoeuvre".

And then he added: "But it will mean we have to increase our diplomatic efforts. We are going to be expanding our diplomatic presence in Europe."

Mr Hunt's only comment on Boris Johnson during the meeting came right at the beginning, when he said: "My predecessor had a pretty distinctive style. Mine is entirely different."

The foreign secretary announced that following the murder of Mr Khashoggi the government is to launch a major campaign on media freedom. He said 65 journalists were killed last year and more than 300 imprisoned.

The government's campaign would include an international conference in London next year, he said.

He told the committee: "We cannot take media freedom for granted."