Department for Transport: Aviation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120039, what the purpose was of each flight to Bahrain; which Ministers and senior officials approved each visit; how many officials travelled on each occasion and at what grade; what the cost was of each visit; and whether an assessment was made of whether those engagements could be (a) conducted remotely and (b) combined with other travel.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
The Department for Transport (DfT) works with international partners to support and strengthen aviation security standards at last points of departure to the UK. A visit to Bahrain was undertaken by three DfT aviation security officials (two Senior Executive Officers and one Executive Officer) to provide technical cooperation, assurance and support effective security delivery. The total cost was £5082.
DfT has acted to build and enhance international maritime security capacity by working collaboratively with partner states to improve compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, thereby reducing risk to the UK’s supply chains, energy routes, and the UK‑registered and wider Red Ensign Group (REG) fleet. Visits to Bahrain were undertaken by four DfT maritime security officials (all Senior Executive Officers) to undertake capacity building activities and port security assessments at a total cost of £10,774. Two DfT maritime security officials (one Senior Executive Officer and one Grade 7) also visited Bahrain to participate in The Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) conference, co-chaired by EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA and Combined Maritime Forces, which is held in Bahrain every year at a total cost of £2772. SHADE enables dialogue between naval forces and the shipping industry, aiming to improve information sharing, operational coordination, and emergency response. DfT attendance at the conference is key to maintaining and developing relationships in this space and to understand industry and military views on the current threat environment.
All the visits were approved by Deputy Directors (Senior Civil Servant) in DfT in line with departmental policy.
As part of the planning process, consideration was given to whether the engagements could be conducted remotely or combined with other official travel. While some preparatory and follow up activity was undertaken virtually, aspects of the engagement required on site/in person delivery and therefore could not be fully conducted remotely.
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