Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies apply the published guidance: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business], published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.