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Written Question
Corruption
Thursday 21st March 2024

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how much was (a) allocated to and (b) spent by each (i) unit and (ii) project funded by his Department's UK Action Against Corruption programme in each financial year from 7 December 2009 to 31 March 2023.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

I refer the honourable Member to the answer to Question 12219 given on 8 February 2024.

The budget and spend on the UK Action to Support Developing Countries Fighting Corruption Programme are provided in the below table. This includes budget and spend in previous iterations of the Programme.

Financial Year

National Crime Agency

Crown Prosecution Agency

City of London Police*

Metropolitan Police Service*

UK Central Authority

2009/10 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2009/10 Spend

£128,933.00

-

£316,271.68

£243,000.00

-

2010/11 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2010/11 Spend

£28,059.00

£4,855.00

£889,816.90

£701,969.30

-

2011/12 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2011/12 Spend

-

£132,713.70

£900,205.38

£759,999.83

-

2012/13 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2012/13 Spend

£211,500.00

£140,784.47

£1,122,820.87

£938,476.84

-

2013/14 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2013/14 Spend

£201,984.25

£169,834.41

£1,318,601.56

£1,168,001.00

-

2014/15 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2014/15 Spend

£419,512.99

£183,043.61

£1,314,870.58

£1,352,288.50

-

2015/16 Budget

£2,824,469.00

£194,887.00

£655,218.00

£219,462.00

-

2015/16 Spend

£1,928,332.37

£215,639.41

£612,753.00

£108,953.74

-

2016/17 Budget

£3,912,796.00

£231,748.00

£404,426.00

-

-

2016/17 Spend

£2,748,325.44

£216,546.87

£455,877.74

-

-

2017/18 Budget

£4,361,241.00

£244,761.00

£240,000.00

-

-

2017/18 Spend

£3,875,640.69

£261,205.19

£191,936.82

-

-

2018/19 Budget

£4,443,003.00

£272,931.00

£180,700.00

-

-

2018/19 Spend

£4,869,794.62

£252,941.12

£180,471.24

-

-

2019/20 Budget

£4,610,853.00

£272,931.00

£170,000.00

-

-

2019/20 Spend

£4,230,454.11

£300,146.87

£233,218.28

-

-

2020/21 Budget

£5,656,027.00

£317,000.00

£117,943.00 (Budget for FY 2020/21 and 2021/22)

-

£254,788.00

2020/21 Spend

£5,538,861.87

£313,544.41

£36,444.55

-

£180,032.77

2021/22 Budget

£5,023,000.00

£213,000.00

£117,943.00 (Budget for FY 2020/21 and 2021/22)

-

£65,608.00

2021/22 Spend

£4,699,253.60

£213,000.00

£18,643.20

-

£54,776.10

2022/23 Budget

£4,764,774.00

£213,000.00

-

-

-

2022/23 Spend

£5,006,953.80

£213,000.00

-

-

-

*The Metropolitan Police Service Proceeds of Corruption Team (POCU) and the work of the City of London Police Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit (OACU) were merged with the National Crime Agency in 2015. OACU funding continued to complete legacy cases until 2021/22. The UK Central Authority funding began in 2020 but then was cut as a result of Covid budget priorities.


Written Question
Corruption
Thursday 8th February 2024

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how much his Department (a) budgeted and (b) spent on the UK Action Against Corruption programme in each financial year since the start of that programme.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The budget and spend on the UK Action to Support Developing Countries Fighting Corruption Programme are provided in the below table. This includes budget and spend in previous iterations of the Programme.

Financial Year

National Crime Agency

Crown Prosecution Agency

City of London Police*

Metropolitan Police Service*

UK Central Authority

2009/10 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2009/10 Spend

£128,933.00

-

£316,271.68

£243,000.00

-

2010/11 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2010/11 Spend

£28,059.00

£4,855.00

£889,816.90

£701,969.30

-

2011/12 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2011/12 Spend

-

£132,713.70

£900,205.38

£759,999.83

-

2012/13 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2012/13 Spend

£211,500.00

£140,784.47

£1,122,820.87

£938,476.84

-

2013/14 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2013/14 Spend

£201,984.25

£169,834.41

£1,318,601.56

£1,168,001.00

-

2014/15 Budget

-

-

-

-

-

2014/15 Spend

£419,512.99

£183,043.61

£1,314,870.58

£1,352,288.50

-

2015/16 Budget

£2,824,469.00

£194,887.00

£655,218.00

£219,462.00

-

2015/16 Spend

£1,928,332.37

£215,639.41

£612,753.00

£108,953.74

-

2016/17 Budget

£3,912,796.00

£231,748.00

£404,426.00

-

-

2016/17 Spend

£2,748,325.44

£216,546.87

£455,877.74

-

-

2017/18 Budget

£4,361,241.00

£244,761.00

£240,000.00

-

-

2017/18 Spend

£3,875,640.69

£261,205.19

£191,936.82

-

-

2018/19 Budget

£4,443,003.00

£272,931.00

£180,700.00

-

-

2018/19 Spend

£4,869,794.62

£252,941.12

£180,471.24

-

-

2019/20 Budget

£4,610,853.00

£272,931.00

£170,000.00

-

-

2019/20 Spend

£4,230,454.11

£300,146.87

£233,218.28

-

-

2020/21 Budget

£5,656,027.00

£317,000.00

£117,943.00 (Budget for FY 2020/21 and 2021/22)

-

£254,788.00

2020/21 Spend

£5,538,861.87

£313,544.41

£36,444.55

-

£180,032.77

2021/22 Budget

£5,023,000.00

£213,000.00

£117,943.00 (Budget for FY 2020/21 and 2021/22)

-

£65,608.00

2021/22 Spend

£4,699,253.60

£213,000.00

£18,643.20

-

£54,776.10

2022/23 Budget

£4,764,774.00

£213,000.00

-

-

-

2022/23 Spend

£5,006,953.80

£213,000.00

-

-

-

*The Metropolitan Police Service Proceeds of Corruption Team (POCU) and the work of the City of London Police Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit (OACU) were merged with the National Crime Agency in 2015. OACU funding continued to complete legacy cases until 2021/22. The UK Central Authority funding began in 2020 but then was cut as a result of Covid budget priorities.


Written Question
UN General Assembly: Finance
Friday 22nd December 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether the Government plans to vote in favour of establishing a budget for the Member State-led, intergovernmental committee at the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UN's Fifth Committee (Administration and Budget) is a technical committee which applies appropriate resources to UN mandates and seeks agreement amongst the broadest possible consensus. The UK encourages budget discipline across the UN System and calls for the appropriate level of funding for agreed mandates.


Written Question
British Overseas Territories: Companies
Monday 27th November 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in the Overseas Territories on introducing publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership by the end of 2023.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We discussed the timeline for implementation of Publicly Accessible Registers of Beneficial Ownership at the Joint Ministerial Council over 14 - 15 November in plenary, in the margins and in bilateral meetings. We have made progress with the majority of the inhabited OTs. Some are yet to confirm precise timelines. Intensive discussions continue with these OTs, led by Ministers. We will inform Parliament of the outcome of those discussions before recess.


Written Question
Gubad Ibadoghlu
Monday 27th November 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the (a) detainment and (b) treatment of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu in Azerbaijan.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

We have raised Dr Ibadoghlu's case, including his access to medication and fair legal process, on a number of occasions with senior representatives of the Azerbaijani government in both London and Baku. I [Minister Docherty] spoke with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov in person about this case on 22 November during my visit to Baku. The former Foreign Secretary also raised the issue in a call on 17 October. Our Ambassador and other officials from the British Embassy in Baku continue to press the case with senior counterparts and to monitor the legal process. On 14 November, the UK delivered a statement during Azerbaijan's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council highlighting this case. We urge Azerbaijan to improve human rights protections for all.


Written Question
Gubad Ibadoghlu
Monday 27th November 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Azerbaijani government on Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu.

Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

We have raised Dr Ibadoghlu's case, including his access to medication and fair legal process, on a number of occasions with senior representatives of the Azerbaijani government in both London and Baku. I [Minister Docherty] spoke with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov in person about this case on 22 November during my visit to Baku. The former Foreign Secretary also raised the issue in a call on 17 October. Our Ambassador and other officials from the British Embassy in Baku continue to press the case with senior counterparts and to monitor the legal process. On 14 November, the UK delivered a statement during Azerbaijan's Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council highlighting this case. We urge Azerbaijan to improve human rights protections for all.


Written Question
Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council
Thursday 23rd November 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department plans to report on (a) any decisions reached and (b) points in discussions from the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council on 26 and 27 November 2023.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

At the November Joint Ministerial Council, the UK Government agreed a Declaration with the elected Governments of the Overseas Territories (OTs), providing a new framework for our relationship with the OTs that is based on our shared values, and is fit for the 21st Century. A Written Ministerial Statement on the Declaration will be made once it has been approved by the Cabinets and Executive Councils of the OT.

The UK and OTs also discussed the timeline for implementation of publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership. Intensive discussions continue and we have made progress with the majority of the OTs. We will inform Parliament of the outcome of these discussions before recess.


Written Question
British Overseas Territories: Companies
Thursday 23rd November 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of when (a) the British Virgin Islands, (b) the Turks and Caicos Islands, (c) the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, (d) the Pitcairn Islands, (e) St Helena, (f) Montserrat, (g) the Falkland Islands, (h) the Cayman Islands, (i) Bermuda and (j) Anguilla will implement a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We discussed the timeline for implementation of Publicly Accessible Registers of Beneficial Ownership at the Joint Ministerial Council over 14 - 15 November in plenary, in the margins and in bilateral meetings. We have made progress with the majority of the inhabited Overseas Territories (OTs). Some are yet to confirm precise timelines. Intensive discussions continue with these OTs, led by Ministers. We will inform Parliament of the outcome of those discussions before recess.


Written Question
British Overseas Territories: Companies
Friday 17th November 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 14 December 2020 on Publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership in the UK Overseas Territories, HCWS643, whether he plans to review his decision not to lay the Order in Council prepared by the Secretary of State to comply with the requirement under section 51 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to keep the Order in Council under review and continue to work with the Governments of the Overseas Territories to implement publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership.


Written Question
St Helena: Companies
Monday 23rd October 2023

Asked by: Margaret Hodge (Labour - Barking)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha's implementation of publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership in line with the Draft Order in Council prepared by the Secretary of State to comply with the requirement under section 51 of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018; whether the Territory has (a) introduced and (b) passed the legislation required for the creation of a publicly accessible register of company beneficial ownership; whether the register will be (i) open and (ii) free at point of access; and when the register will be (A) live and (B) operational.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government of St. Helena (SHG) has committed to introduce a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership (PARBO).

SHG is preparing a draft Bill to enable the creation of a PARBO that would comply with the standards set out in a written ministerial statement (HCWS369) of 14 December 2020. How St. Helena seeks to recoup the costs of operating their PARBO will be a matter for the Territory Government.

SHG is assessing its timeline for implementation in light of ongoing constraints on capacity and expertise. The UK Government is providing technical assistance, most recently at the UK-OT Beneficial Ownership Transparency Technical Working Group on 10 October. We will confirm the timeline with St. Helena and other Overseas Territories at the Joint Ministerial Council scheduled for 14-15 November.