Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2007–08W, on natural disasters, whether the individuals involved in Hurricane Katrina had been (a) alerted to the danger and (b) advised to evacuate by (i) the local authorities and (ii) his Department; what class of ticket they travelled on; for what reasons return flights were required; what factors underlay the level of departmental financial support supplied; and if he will make a statement. [52609] Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office frequently amended its travel advice to British nationals during Hurricane Katrina and advised British nationals in the area to track the hurricane and pay attention to advice from local authorities and the media. We also published web links to US agencies who offered advice on how to prepare for storms and to meteorological sites who monitored her progress. When Katrina hit, we advised of causalities and widespread damage and disruption. The Mayor of New Orleans ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city on 28 August. We are constantly improving our consular response to British nationals caught up in mass casualty incidents overseas. If there is a major catastrophe, we will consider whether to offer exceptional help to those British nationals who are directly affected, bearing in mind the circumstances of the catastrophe and the resources available. In line with this, we put in place a version of the assistance package used for the Asian tsunami to help British nationals affected by Hurricane Katrina. The package includes: up to five nights accommodation for any residents and visiting British nationals in desperate need; business class return flights for those resident in the US who had lost homes, belongings and funds; flights for any bereaved families to travel to the US if appropriate and repatriation of remains if appropriate. | 
