Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much public money was spent by his Department in financial years (a) 2020-21 and (b) 2021-22 on the procurement of ministerial red (i) boxes and (ii) folders bearing the inscription Department for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The costs for new boxes, refurbishment, keys and folders was £10,189 in financial year 2020-21 and £10,192 in financial year 2021-22.
Purchasing and repairing ministerial boxes is a routine UK Government practice under successive administrations, including the last Labour Government.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February to Question 133964 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, what type of furniture was hired from the company concerned; and what purpose it had at the functions described.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The purchases from Capital Pinball on the dates noted relate to table, chair, marquee, cutlery and crockery hire for larger scale functions at the British High Commission in Canberra and at Westminster House, the High Commissioner's official Residence in Canberra.
These events included the Queen's Birthday Party, a reception to mark the end of the UK-hosted COP26 and a lunch with Australian Chevening scholars. Guests included Ministers, parliamentarians, indigenous leaders and other key stakeholders.
The exchange of gifts and hospitality has long been an important part of building relations and diplomacy. All expenses undergo rigorous oversight to ensure they are reasonable and adhere to FCDO spending regulations.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to his Department's publication of spending above £500 on government procurement cards, what goods or services were purchased from Capital Pinball on (a) 18 February 2021, (b) 11 June 2021, (c) 3 December 2021, (d) 16 December 2021, (e) 18 March 2022 and (f) 21-22 July 2022; and for what purposes they were required.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The purchases from Capital Pinball on the dates noted relate to furniture hire for larger scale functions at the British High Commission in Canberra and at Westminster House, the High Commissioner's official Residence in Canberra. These events included: the Queen's Birthday Party reception and UK in Australia's 2021 end of year stakeholder reception, both of which celebrated the UK in Australia to an audience including Ministers, parliamentarians, senior government officials and other key stakeholders; a networking reception for Labor party staffers after the Australian federal election; and a lunch for Chevening scholars.
The exchange of gifts and hospitality has long been an important part of building relations and diplomacy. All expenses undergo rigorous oversight to ensure they are reasonable and adhere to FCDO spending regulations.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Questions 118921 and 119029 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, tabled on 9 January 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Responses to PQs 118921, 123886 and 123889 were sent on 26th January 2023. Reponses to PQs 119029, 123885 and 123887 were sent on 30th January 2023.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Questions 123885, 123886, 123887 and 123889 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, tabled on 16 January 2023 for answer by 19 January..
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Responses to PQs 118921, 123886 and 123889 were sent on 26th January 2023. Reponses to PQs 119029, 123885 and 123887 were sent on 30th January 2023.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication of government procurement card spending over £500 for October 2021, what the (a) purpose of, (b) location of and (c) guest list was for the event for which The Knot 36 were paid £2,942.16 on 27 October 2021.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The expense was for the catering of the Queen's Birthday Party (QBP) at the British Embassy in The Hague. The event hosted senior representatives of the Dutch government and business community. Expenditure was subject to the usual controls.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication of government procurement card spending over £500 for November 2021, for how many (a) individuals and (b) nights accommodation was purchased at the Gulf Hotel, Bahrain on 1 and 3 November 2021; and what the purpose was of the stay at that hotel.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
These relate to the deposit and final payment for catering services by the Gulf Hotel at the Remembrance Day lunch held for over 100 guests at the Ambassador's residence in November 2021, including serving members and veterans of the UK Armed Forces and senior representatives of the Bahraini Government.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication of Government procurement card spending over £500, for what purpose purchases were made from One4All of (a) £9,000 on 13 January 2021, (b) £2,200 on 9 March 2021, (c) £850 on 6 December 2021, (d) £600 on 19 January 2022, (e) £1,890 on 8-11 March 2022, (f) £2,525 on 19 April 2022 and (g) £1,424.89 on 18 May 2022.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This relates to bonus award vouchers for FCDO and DIT staff across our network purchased as part of Reward and Recognition awards for staff. These recognised exceptional achievement by teams and individuals across departments. Bonuses paid out as non-cash vouchers is a standard practice across Government and the private sector.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication of government procurement card spending over £500 for November 2021, who attended the events at (a) Plataran and (b) Kaum, on 11 November 2021; and whether either of those events included any expenditure on alcoholic beverages.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
These refer to lunch and dinner events during the official Ministerial visit to Jakarta by the former Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon. Liz Truss MP, 10 - 12 November 2021. Participants at both included the former Foreign Secretary and delegation, our Ambassador to Indonesia and other British Embassy officials. Expenditure was subject to normal FCDO controls.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2022 to Question 106393 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, how many purchases with a value less than £500 were made against his Department’s budget through a Government procurement card in 2021.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO made 120,431 purchases in 2021 on goods and services with a transaction value less than £500 using Government Procurement Cards. Government Procurement Cards provide an efficient route to enable key staff to procure goods and services, necessary to the promotion of British interests overseas and the maintenance of our Embassies and High Commissions. All purchases are subject to authorisation by managers and audit checks. Local budgets are scrutinised for waste, and fraud is monitored by our audit teams to ensure best value to the tax payer.