Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the then Secretary of State's tour of the Caribbean and Latin America in May 2023, what travel options other than Embraer Lineage 1000E were available; what the comparative cost of those options was to Embraer Lineage 1000E; and for what reason Embraer Lineage 1000E was selected as the chosen means of travel.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Government aircraft assets were explored but unavailable. The charter aircraft was selected as the most efficient and value for money asset for the Foreign Secretary and travelling delegation to undertake the visit. Foreign travel is a vital part of diplomacy. It is in the national interest that the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers travel abroad to pursue UK interests. Value for money is taken into account in all travel decisions
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's publication of ministerial travel data for April to June 2023, how much of the published £22,860.38 cost of his trip to the Caribbean and Latin America from 17 to 25 May was made up of his (a) share of the £422,747.50 cost of the flights for that trip, (b) accommodation and (c) meals and other expenses.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Overall figures of government spend are regularly published as part of transparency releases. These figures could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
Foreign travel is a vital part of diplomacy. It is in the national interest that the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers travel abroad to pursue UK interests. Value for money is taken into account in all travel decisions.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps he has taken to support women and girls in South America.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO's first International Women and Girls Strategy commits us to using the full weight of our diplomatic and development offer to stand up for women's and girls' rights. As I [Minister Rutley] outlined in my speech at Canning House in November, these rights are central to the "values" strategic pillar, one of four tenets that support the UK's approach to Latin America in the near future. The FCDO is providing funding through several initiatives including to end gender-based violence, to support grassroots women's organisations and to promote Women, Peace & Security. The FCDO is currently funding a Latin America gender equality, disability and social inclusion analysis which will be finalised in early 2024.
Nov. 20 2023
Source Page: Canning House 80th anniversary celebrations: David Rutley's keynote speechFound: In my 13 months as the Minister for Latin America, I have travelled to the region 16 times and visited
Jun. 24 2024
Source Page: Market access barrier statistics 2022 to 2023Found: China and Hong Kong 83 33 43 18 Eastern Europe and Central Asia 114 84 67 30 Europe 115 140 130 118 Latin
Mar. 14 2024
Source Page: Market access barrier quarterly statistics October to December 2023Found: Pacific 9 12 21 11 China and Hong Kong 6 4 1 2 Eastern Europe and Central Asia 7 6 7 4 Europe 14 15 17 24 Latin
May. 07 2024
Source Page: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to El SalvadorFound: Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre 2003 to 2004 FCO, Cuba, Haiti & Dominican Republic Desk Officer, Latin
Mentions:
1: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) Another meeting is being convened by Caribbean and Latin American countries later this week, as the noble - Speech Link
2: Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD - Life peer) My Lords, Guyana is the only Commonwealth member in South America. - Speech Link
3: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) The meeting being convened is reflective of the unity between Latin American, South American and Caribbean - Speech Link
4: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) nations that come together, but this meeting is taking place within the context of co-operation between Latin - Speech Link