Ambassador David Warren

Immediately after the earthquake, the Embassy became a crisis centre, stopping all other work, and focusing exclusively on the task of identifying and assisting British people who might have been caught up in the disaster, and liaising with the Japanese Government over the British Government's emergency assistance to Japan, including the despatch of a search and rescue team. We were strengthened by over 50 members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from other British Embassies and from London, and deployed four consular teams to the worst affected areas in the Tohoku region. We were able to help over 200 British nationals, over 80 of whom were evacuated from Sendai.

It was a very difficult and distressing time for staff in the Embassy, many of whom are Japanese, with friends and family in the affected regions. We are all keen to play as active a role as we can in the reconstruction process, and are liaising closely with our friends and colleagues in the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, as well as with many other non-governmental organisations. Everyone in Britain is profoundly impressed by the dignity, professionalism and resilience of people in Japan as they cope with a disaster on an unimaginable scale.

2. The FCO has revised its travel advice for Japan and no longer advises against all but essential travel to Tokyo. Could you explain a little about the background to that decision?

We decided on 07 April, in the light of the advice of the UK Scientific Advisory Group in Emergencies (SAGE) that the health risks outside the exclusion zone around the Fukushima nuclear plant were minimal and that there was no reason any longer to advise against travel to Tokyo. We are delighted that a number of business and other visitors are now returning to Tokyo. We want to get the message across as widely as possible that travelling to and doing business in the unaffected areas - which of course constitute most of the country - is perfectly safe. We need to show solidarity with Japan at this difficult time and we are keen to play as active a role as we can in helping to develop greater contacts between British and Japanese people.

3. What is your message to British tourists and businesses thinking of going to Japan?

Please come to Japan! There has been a lot of misleading press comment suggesting that Tokyo is in some way unsafe. As everybody in Tokyo knows, this is very far from the truth. And Western Japan has never been under any travel restriction. So there is absolutely no reason for British tourists or business people to postpone travel to Japan outside the earthquake areas and the Fukushima nuclear reactor, which is 150 miles north of Tokyo.

4. Sir Paul Smith recorded a message to British businesses that can be seen on your website. How important is it for British companies to begin or resume business with Japan at this time?

It's understandable that, at a time when Japan is just beginning to recover from a terrible catastrophe, most people will want to show respect and not rush back into assuming that business is back to normal. We all want to be sensitive to the feelings of those many thousands of Japanese who have suffered directly in this tragedy. But there is also a sense in Japan that too much self-restraint will hold back the process of recovery, and I am hearing repeatedly the message that Japan wants its foreign friends and partners to resume business contacts. That was why Sir Paul and I recorded our short message for the British Embassy website, which I understand has been widely distributed on Japanese Government websites too. I hope it helps get the message across that Japan is open for business and welcomes a resumption of the commercial partnership with Britain.

5. Can you tell us about your briefings on the nuclear situation with Sir John Beddington, Chief Scientific Advisor?

We thought it would be useful in the early stages of the crisis for the British community and members of the British Embassy in Tokyo to hear the expert views of the British Government's Chief Scientist. Sir John Beddington was able to give a detailed and objective analysis of what was happening in Fukushima and the risks that arose from it. We held four teleconferences with him, and were able to monitor the situation as it developed, including the various difficulties that TEPCO and the Japanese authorities experienced in their attempts to get it under control. I believe that this was helpful for people from Britain living in Japan, and I am delighted that the transcripts we published have been used by other Embassies and by the Japanese Government. I have been told by many people that the objective analysis he provided helped put the risks in proportion at a time when, understandably, there was a great deal of concern.

6. What next for the Embassy in Tokyo? How will you work with Japan to begin the process of recovery? How will the British Government as a whole work with Japan?

Britain has a very close and supportive relationship with Japan, which we have developed over many years, particularly in the trade, investment and scientific fields. And I hope that this will be valuable in helping Japan to recover from this disaster. Our two nuclear industries have very close contacts, and our power generation sector also has extensive experience of working with Japanese partners. So there may be ways in which we can help to find the solutions to some of the problems that have developed in the wake of a natural disaster that no-one anticipated. We will of course be supporting the efforts of many commercial and other organisations to provide support for the reconstruction process in the Tohoku, as the communities devastated on 11 March begin to be re-housed and their towns and villages rebuilt.

It is important that we show respect for and solidarity with Japan. As the Prime Minister said when he signed the Condolence Book at the Japanese Embassy on 22 March: "We know that you will recover and we shall be with you all the way."