Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many applications for Overseas Security and Justice Assistance have required Ministerial approval from his Department in each financial year since 2015-16.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its guidance on Overseas Security and Justice Assistance in 2017 by written ministerial statement. Since then, information on its implementation has been included in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments completed for specific projects or interventions are working documents, and are regularly updated in line with developments in the country concerned. Information on the number of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments completed in previous years and a more detailed breakdown of applications requiring Ministerial approval is not held centrally and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

The guidance applies to any security and justice assistance from Her Majasty's Government that could result in changes to the laws, policies, practices or capabilities of foreign justice or security institutions and/or result in individuals being identified, investigated, arrested, detained, interviewed, interrogated, prosecuted, tried or sentenced by foreign authorities.