Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on discussions between Lord Mandelson and (a) the US Administration and (b) the National Security Adviser on the future of the Chagos Islands during the period that Lord Mandelson was the UK Ambassador to the United States of America; how many times she has met with the National Security Adviser since her appointment; what information her Department holds on the remuneration including expenses paid to Lord Mandelson (i) during the period that Lord Mandelson was the UK Ambassador to the United States of America and (ii) following the announcement of his termination from this role; and if she will ask her officials to undertake a review of (A) communications and (B) meetings between Lord Mandelson and (1) businesses, (2) foreign governments and (3) any other organisations and people not working for the UK Government in his capacity as the UK Ambassador to the United States of America.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer her to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) her ministers and (b) her officials had with Peter Mandelson during his tenure as Ambassador to the United States on the future of the Chagos Archipelago; and what discussions her Department had with Peter Mandelson on the future of the Chagos Archipelago prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the United States.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Mauritian Government on the internal domestic Mauritian processes and timescales to ratify the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon member to the answer given on 13 February to question 110763.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what communications her Department have received from the Government of the Maldives on the Chagos Archipelago since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Further to the answer the Rt Hon Member was provided on 18 June 2025 in response to Question 57626, we continue to speak to our counterparts in the Maldives on a regular basis about a range of issues. However, I would reiterate to her that the question of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter for the UK and Mauritius, which is why the previous government launched negotiations with Mauritius on the issue in 2022, rather than with the Maldives.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Mauritian Government concerning that Government's plans for the resettlement the Chagos Islands in each of the next five years.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 13 February in response to Question 110763.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, whether (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) her officials have discussed ‘pay for slay’ payments with representatives of the Palestinian Authority.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer she received on 12 January in response to Question 103247.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2026 to Question 105663, on Palestine: Terrorism, when she will undertake an assessment of (a) the number of recipients of ‘pay for slay’ payments and (b) alternative ways the Palestinian Authority is making payments to terrorists.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer she received on 12 January in response to Question 103247.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, if any funding provided by the UK Government has been used to support the Palestinian Authority’s ‘Pay for Slay’ payment schemes.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No. The UK's official development assistance to Palestine is directed at humanitarian relief, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, What funding she provided to the Palestinian Authority (a) from 5 July 2024 to 31 December 2024; and (b) in 2025; and what funding she plans to provide in (i) 2026, (ii) 2027, (iii) 2028, (iv) 2029 and (v) 2030.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Details of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funding for the Palestinian Authority over the period 2024-2025 were set out in the Foreign Secretary's letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee dated 16 February 2026. Any decisions on funding for the period up to 2028/29 will be made as part of the FCDO's allocations process in the coming months.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, When she will complete her review of the representations sent in relation to her Department’s cancellation of funding for Lodge Farm School in Witham.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Representations sent in by trusts and local authorities are currently being considered. Final decisions taken by ministers on individual projects will be communicated by letter as soon as possible.