Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how much his Department spent on external recruitment consultants in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO publishes Expenditure on Consultancy and Temporary Staff in the Annual Report and Accounts. Costs reported in the ARA 2022-23 & 2021-22 are as per the below table.
Financial Year | Cost |
2020-21 | £28,421,311 |
2021-22 | £45,336,007 |
2022-23 | £53,365,260 |
External recruitment agencies and search firms are an important resource which support the Civil Service's ability to recruit - to find talented people, in the right places, with the right capabilities to deliver for the people of the United Kingdom. The Civil Service has developed a number of commercial frameworks which provide transparency, high quality services and value for money.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the sacking of the journalist Fiona MacGregor from the Myanmar Times newspaper; and whether he has raised the issue of media freedom with the government of Myanmar.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
We are aware of Fiona MacGregor's case and the British Embassy in Rangoon has been in touch with her. While Burma has made progress on freedom of the expression since 2012, we continue to have concerns. The outdated legal framework continues to lead to instances of draconian penalties being handed down to journalists. While private media are able to operate, and in general there is editorial freedom, there are also instances of intimidation. The UK has been a leading advocate for media rights in Burma and will continue to press for rights of expression that are fully in line with international norms.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to force Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to establish public central registers of beneficial ownership.
Answered by Alan Duncan
While the Overseas Territories (OTs) and Crown Dependencies (CDs) are separate jurisdictions, and are responsible for their own fiscal matters, we are working closely with them on their role on company transparency. Our priority has been for them to establish a central register of beneficial ownership information (or a similarly effective system) where they do not already have one, and for UK law enforcement and tax authorities to have full and automatic access to that information. Bilateral arrangements to this effect have now been concluded with all the relevant OTs and with the CDs, and these will enter into effect by June 2017. The registers will, with one exception, not be public, but these measures will place our Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories well ahead of other similar jurisdictions and represent a significant step forward in our ability to counter criminal activity.Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made since the Anti-Corruption Summit of 12 May 2016 on implementing the Government's plan to establish central registers of beneficial ownership in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
Answered by James Duddridge
Agreement has been reached with all the relevant Overseas Territories, and with the Isle of Man and Jersey on the establishment of central registers or similarly effective systems. These arrangements will give UK law enforcement and tax authorities quick and unrestricted access to beneficial ownership information on corporate and legal entities incorporated in these Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. This is a significant step forward in our ability to fight criminal activity. The signing of a similar arrangement with Guernsey is expected shortly, following their recent general election and formation of a new government.
Requests from UK law enforcement will be processed within 24 hours and quicker in urgent cases. The new arrangements must be in place by June 2017, but relevant Government Departments and law enforcement authorities are working with the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to ensure some changes are made immediately.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 11 April 2016, Official Report, columns 23-26, on the Panama Papers, whether UK law enforcement agencies will have automatic access to central registers of beneficial ownership, or equivalent platforms, in the Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies once those registers or platforms have been established.
Answered by James Duddridge
Under the bilateral arrangements concluded with the Overseas Territories with a financial centre and Crown Dependencies, UK law enforcement and tax authorities will have quick and unrestricted access to beneficial ownership information held in central registers or similarly effective systems on corporate and legal entities incorporated in these Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether a timetable has been agreed for the Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies to establish central registers of beneficial ownership.
Answered by James Duddridge
The new arrangements agreed with the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories with financial centres must be in place by June 2017. UK law enforcement authorities will, however, work with these jurisdictions to ensure that the spirit of the arrangements is respected immediately.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of officials of his Department resigned in each of the last six years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
In the past six years, 334 officials resigned from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The breakdown is as follows:
| Resignations | Resignations as % |
2010/11 | 67 | 1.4% |
2011/12 | 83 | 1.8% |
2012/13 | 43 | 0.9% |
2013/14 | 46 | 1.0% |
2014/15 | 48 | 1.1% |
2015/16 | 47 | 1.1% |
The figures do not include staff recruited locally by our Missions overseas.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 28625, how many employment tribunals the legal fees for employment tribunals in that Answer relate to.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The answer of 25 February 2016 given to Parliamentary Question 28625 relates to legal fees for 14 employment tribunal claims against the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 28689, how many staff in his Department received overtime pay in each of the last 24 months.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The number of FCO staff who have received overtime payments in each of the last 24 months is:
2014 |
|
April | 326 |
May | 219 |
June | 226 |
July | 352 |
August | 363 |
September | 271 |
October | 429 |
November | 213 |
December | 191 |
2015 |
|
January | 188 |
February | 208 |
March | 278 |
April | 294 |
May | 220 |
June | 320 |
July | 200 |
August | 241 |
September | 477 |
October | 309 |
November | 247 |
December | 258 |
2016 |
|
January | 167 |
February | 255 |
March | 197 |
Staff can only claim overtime when required by management to work more than their conditioned hours. In the majority of cases claims are made after exceptional demands on Foreign Office staff during times of global crises.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who has (a) visited and (b) stayed at Chevening House since 7 May 2015.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
This Government regularly publishes information on the use of official residences and ministerial meetings.
Details are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: