Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many people were employed by his Department on 1 September 2020; and what assessment he has made of the number of employees needed to fulfil the functions of his Department.

On 1 September the Foreign Secretary was responsible for 13,500-13,999 staff working for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (UK based & Local Staff). On the 2nd September, following the creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs was responsible for 16,500-16,999 members of staff.

The future size and shape of the FCDO is yet to be established. This will be determined in coming months through the ongoing organisational design work, and the outcome of the spending review and the integrated review.