The SNP has called on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to make an urgent Commons statement on the Mediterranean refugee crisis.

New Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins MP said the update was needed following recent tragedies involving thousands of migrants off the coasts of Libya and Italy.

In a letter to Mr Hammond, Mr Gethins said that while the deployment of the Royal Navy warship HMS Bulwark to help with rescue efforts of refugees was a belated but welcome move, but that Parliament must be told of the UK's longer-term commitment to the crisis.

Mr Gethins, the MP for Fife North East said: "The Foreign Secretary must update the House on the situation in the Mediterranean- and on the UK's proposals around the re-settlement of refugees.

"During the pre-election period there was a significant escalation in the situation in the Mediterranean, with many of the refugees fleeing war and persecution. The plight of their situation is highlighted by the fact that they were willing to face lethal dangers in their attempts to flee.

"The deployment of HMS Bulwark to help with rescue efforts was a belated but welcome move. It is a mark of the professionalism and excellence of the Royal Navy team who have already helped many hundreds of desperate migrants in what are very difficult circumstances.

But he added: "However the Foreign Secretary must update the House on the current situation, and what the UK government intends to do longer term. "

There has been criticism from many quarters over the widely differing response by EU countries to the crisis in the Meditteranean.

Alex Salmond recently said called for the UK to take its full proposed 60,000 proposed share of EU refugees

The Gordon MP and the party's foreign affairs spokesman claimed the Conservative Government was hopelessly misjudging the Mediterranean crisis and did not understand the "basic human instinct" of the British people to help those in extreme need.