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Written Question
Diplomatic Service
Thursday 14th March 2024

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2024 to Question 16041 on Diplomatic Service, whether his Department has had a policy of instructing British diplomats not to engage with Official Opposition hon. Members since 2010.

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

There is no policy preventing engagement between British diplomats and UK parliamentarians. While posts must prioritise resources for the delivery of HMG business, if a parliamentarian makes a request for support this will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The overseas network aims to provide appropriate support for parliamentarians, including a high-level of support for select committees travelling overseas. As per my previous answer (16041), all engagement with Parliamentarians must adhere to the principle of political impartiality and follow the correct clearance processes as outlined in the Civil Service code and Directory of civil service guidance.


Written Question
Diplomatic Service
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has a policy on engagement between British diplomats at the Embassy and High Commission level at global British missions and Official Opposition hon. Members.

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

The FCDO policy on engagement between parliamentarians and officials in our overseas Posts and in the UK sets out that all engagement must adhere to the principle of political impartiality, remain factual and focused only on current government policy, and follow correct clearance processes as outlined in the Civil Service code and Directory of civil service guidance, which can be found at GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).


Written Question
Morocco: Western Sahara
Wednesday 31st January 2024

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the number of (a) Moroccan and (b) Saharawi soldiers that have died since the Moroccan military incursion into Guerguerat.

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

The FCDO does not hold such records. However, we continue to monitor the situation in Western Sahara including through our engagements with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and our international partners.


Written Question
Development Aid: Climate Change and Poverty
Thursday 18th January 2024

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to UK International Development's white paper entitled International development in a contested world: ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change, published in November 2023, if his Department will publish a plan to deliver the policy commitments in that white paper.

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

International development in a contested world, the International Development White Paper, sets out our strategic goal, to end extreme poverty and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, and how the UK can accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, through to 2030. The FCDO will set out how it is delivering the White Paper through existing departmental planning processes, including the Outcome Delivery Plan and the Annual Report and Accounts.


Written Question
India: Visits Abroad
Wednesday 17th January 2024

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many (a) diplomats and (b) other officials accompanied the Minister of State for Commonwealth and Development Affairs on his visit to the Republic of India to attend Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January 2024.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon attended the Vibrant Gujarat Summit on 9-10 January 2024 to celebrate the close ties between the UK and India through business, culture, and our great links between our peoples. Three officials from the UK accompanied the Minister to India, with support provided by our India-based diplomatic network.


Written Question
India: Diplomatic Service
Tuesday 5th December 2023

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2023 to Question 2222 on India: Diplomatic Service, how many staff of (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments work in the Republic of India.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO currently has between 40-49 staff, in October 2023, working in India. (As reported in our response to PQ 2222).

FCDO do not report headcount figures for other government departments. It is the responsibility of other government departments to report their own staff headcount numbers.


Written Question
India: Diplomatic Service
Thursday 23rd November 2023

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many British diplomatic staff are based in the Republic of India as of 15 November 2023.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO currently has between 40-49 staff, in October 2023, working in India.


Written Question
Taiwan: World Health Assembly
Tuesday 21st November 2023

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he plans to take diplomatic steps to support Taiwan’s application to join World Health Assembly.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK believes that the people of Taiwan have a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern. We therefore support Taiwanese meaningful participation in international organisations, as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite, and as an observer or guest where it is.


Written Question
Taiwan: Diplomatic Service
Tuesday 21st November 2023

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many British diplomatic staff are based in Taiwan as of 15 November 2023.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. The UK has no diplomatic staff in Taiwan. Approximately 50 staff work at the British Office in Taipei. This is a combination of staff from the UK and staff employed locally.


Written Question
India: Visits Abroad
Tuesday 19th September 2023

Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) diplomats and (b) other officials accompanied the Prime Minister on his recent visit to India.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

A total of 43 officials travelled to India in support of the Prime Minister's visit for the 2023 G20 Summit.