This week the Thomas Cook Group has ceased trading and has been placed into compulsory liquidation.

The Government has committed to supporting those affected. People should complete their holidays after which the Government and UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will provide repatriation flights free of charge. Some customers may need to book their own flight home and reclaim costs. As part of the largest peacetime repatriation, the CAA and UK Government are working to get those abroad home as close as possible to their planned date, ensuring minimal disruption for UK passengers abroad.

All those affected by flight cancellation please visit the website, thomascook.caa.co.uk where you can find the relevant contact details and information.

I am deeply disappointed that due to the liquidation of the company, the Gosport branch will now close. I have been assured by my Ministerial colleagues that the Department for Work and Pension’s Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service will work to ensure that local residents get help finding employment. The Rapid Response Service can help those affected through:

• Providing information, advice and guidance to workers made redundant to support them back into work. 
• Working with local employers who may benefit from these workers’ skills and offer them jobs quickly.
• Helping to identify transferable skills and skill gaps in the local labour market and provide recognised training to improve employability.
• Supporting people to access benefits and overcome barriers to securing a job, such as child care costs, travel costs and work clothes.

If you are an employee of Thomas Cook and are affected by the liquidation, there is a dedicated webpage with advice on rights and protections here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/are-you-a-customer-or-employee-affected-by-thomas-cook. Please do not hesitate to contact me for any assistance at caroline.dinenage.mp@parliament.uk.

The Secretary of State Grant Shapps has set up a cross-government Task Force to address the impact on my constituents and our local community with more information being made available shortly. The Secretary of State has further assured me that the suggestions in the press that a £250 million Government bailout could have avoided the collapse is not the case. He has confirmed that with this cash injection there was no guarantee that the future of the company could have been secured.

Useful Information For Passengers

Thomas Cook customers seeking information on their flights and on other issues should visit the dedicated website at thomascook.caa.co.uk – the best and quickest way to get information and access the helpline.

British nationals overseas who require specific consular assistance, for example if they have a medical condition or issues with their travel documents, will be referred to consular staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Contact details for UK embassies and consulates can be found through https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies

Wider consular assistance offered by the Foreign Office is set out in our guide to Supporting British nationals abroad: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-britishnationals…

The Civil Aviation Authority call centre for Thomas Cook customers can be contacted as follows:

Phoning from the UK (reduced rate): 0300 303 2800

Phoning from overseas: +44 1753 330 330