Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the RAND Corporation report, Consular services to citizens abroad: Insights from an international comparative study, published November 2019, whether other countries participating in that study referred to people seeking consular assistance as customers.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The FCDO cannot comment on other states' choice of terminology in relation to consular matters.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department allocates to the Victim Support Homicide Service/Lucie Blackman Trust to support families bereaved abroad.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) works with a number of partner organisations where they can provide expertise, specialist support or services that the FCDO cannot. The FCDO contributes grant funding, via the Ministry of Justice, to the Victim Support Homicide Service to provide support to eligible families bereaved abroad. The grant funding provided to the Lucie Blackman Trust is to support missing British nationals and their families.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to publish an official response to the APPG on Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance 2019 Report entitled Why families in the UK deserve better and what can be done.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We welcome the report of the APPG's Death Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance 2019. On 28 August I, (Minister Adams) replied to APPG chair, Hannah Bardell's letter of 28 July. In that letter I confirmed that I and my predecessors have repeatedly offered to meet the APPG to discuss their concerns and recommendations. This offer has not been taken up. We have carefully considered the issues raised in the report.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Government plans to respond to the Third Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Flying Home: The FCO’s consular response to the COVID-19 pandemic, published on 21 July 2020.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Government sent its response to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 25 September.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his former Department's report of January 2015, Review of consular assistance following murder and manslaughter cases overseas, whether his Department plans to publish the outcome of the review of the Access to Justice Unit on support provided to bereaved families and friends after a murder or manslaughter abroad.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The FCO noted in its January 2015 review of consular assistance following murder and manslaughter cases overseas, that a new Access to Justice Unit would be operational by January 2015, and that we would report on progress by June 2015. An update was included in a published report called "Consular Strategy 2013-16: progress during year two" published in May 2015.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his former Department's report of January 2015, Review of consular assistance following murder and manslaughter cases overseas, whether his Department plans to publish its internal guidance on how it decides (a) who is entitled to consular assistance, (b) what criteria are considered, (c) how vulnerability is assessed and (d) what forms consular assistance can take in cases where support is provided to bereaved families and friends after a murder or manslaughter abroad.
Answered by Nigel Adams
"Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide" sets what we can and cannot provide in terms of consular assistance. In addition we have published guidance on gov.uk outlining consular support available to those bereaved through murder of manslaughter abroad called "Consular support for those bereaved through murder or manslaughter abroad". Vulnerability is assessed individually, according to each person or family's need.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the FCO Murder Manslaughter Team will become party to the Victims' Code.
Answered by Nigel Adams
FCDO officials are in discussion with the Ministry of Justice about the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime (Victims' Code) following recommendations made by the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales in 2019. The Ministry of Justice recently ran a public consultation exercise on changes to the Victims' Code and their officials continue to analyse the responses received.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much the merger of his Department with the Department for International Development cost; and how many roles will be (a) lost and (b) created (i) in the UK and (ii) overseas as a result of that merger.
Answered by James Duddridge
The creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has unified our international efforts so we can maximise the UK's influence around the world.
As the Foreign Secretary has said, we will implement the merger in the most cost-effective way possible. The ultimate shape of the FCDO will depend on the outcomes of the Integrated Review and Spending Review which will define the Government's ambition for the UK's role in the world and the long-term strategic aims for our national security, defence, development and foreign policy. As such, it is not possible to determine yet the anticipated final costs of the merger or the size of the department needed to deliver against those ambitions. We anticipate there may be cost savings in the long term as a result of using our resources more effectively and efficiently, though this is not the primary goal of the merger.
The Foreign Secretary has said there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the merger, but that some roles and responsibilities may change. We will continue to engage with staff throughout this process.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many requests have been made for consular assistance by UK citizens since 2014.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since 2014, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has handled over 131,000 new Consular assistance cases and issued more than 182,000 emergency travel documents to British nationals who have had their passports stolen, lost, damaged or were otherwise unavailable. The FCO has responded to over 1,800,000 Consular telephone enquiries over the same period.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many requests have been made for consular assistance by UK citizens since 2014.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.