Written questions by McMurdock.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the projected spending for the Chevening Scholarships programme is for each year from 2026 to 2030.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 23 February to question 112516. The top 10 countries in terms of scholar numbers were Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Mexico, India, China, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Malaysia.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether foreign aid has been distributed in Afghanistan since 2021.

The Hon Member can find details of all UK Official Development Assistance spending in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) annual accounts, or in the annual statistics on international development published on GOV.UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which ten countries' students have received the greatest number of Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships in the last ten years.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 23 February to question 112516. The top 10 countries in terms of scholar numbers were Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Mexico, India, China, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Malaysia.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme does not act as a pull factor encouraging further migration to that country.

The Government is working with Turkey to help it manage the challenges of hosting approximately 2.3 million refugees, the majority of whom have fled conflict and persecution in Syria. The February 2023 earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border had a devastating impact on refugee communities, killing thousands and destroying much of the temporary accommodation in which they had been staying.The Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme helps to ensure refugees receive humanitarian assistance, decent livelihoods and education, and aims to prevent onward movement into Western Europe. The programme also helps Syrian refugees make informed decisions about voluntarily returning to their own country when conditions allow.Proposed programme activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's development partnership objectives and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Official Development Assistance programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives and for their delivery on time and on budget. The programme undergoes regular monitoring and is rigorously reviewed annually to assess performance against its targets and objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to her Department’s Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme, what the purpose was of the transaction made to Royal Residence for £7,484 dated 25 September 2024 with the IATI Activity ID of GB-GOV-1-400052-406.

The Government is working with Turkey to help it manage the challenges of hosting approximately 2.3 million refugees, the majority of whom have fled conflict and persecution in Syria. The February 2023 earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border had a devastating impact on refugee communities, killing thousands and destroying much of the temporary accommodation in which they had been staying.The Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme helps to ensure refugees receive humanitarian assistance, decent livelihoods and education, and aims to prevent onward movement into Western Europe. The programme also helps Syrian refugees make informed decisions about voluntarily returning to their own country when conditions allow.Proposed programme activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's development partnership objectives and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Official Development Assistance programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives and for their delivery on time and on budget. The programme undergoes regular monitoring and is rigorously reviewed annually to assess performance against its targets and objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme at supporting the survival of refugees in that country.

The Government is working with Turkey to help it manage the challenges of hosting approximately 2.3 million refugees, the majority of whom have fled conflict and persecution in Syria. The February 2023 earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border had a devastating impact on refugee communities, killing thousands and destroying much of the temporary accommodation in which they had been staying.The Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme helps to ensure refugees receive humanitarian assistance, decent livelihoods and education, and aims to prevent onward movement into Western Europe. The programme also helps Syrian refugees make informed decisions about voluntarily returning to their own country when conditions allow.Proposed programme activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's development partnership objectives and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Official Development Assistance programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives and for their delivery on time and on budget. The programme undergoes regular monitoring and is rigorously reviewed annually to assess performance against its targets and objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to her Department’s ‘Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey,’ programme, what assessment she has made of the cost-effectiveness of the funding spent on this programme so far.

The Government is working with Turkey to help it manage the challenges of hosting approximately 2.3 million refugees, the majority of whom have fled conflict and persecution in Syria. The February 2023 earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border had a devastating impact on refugee communities, killing thousands and destroying much of the temporary accommodation in which they had been staying.The Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme helps to ensure refugees receive humanitarian assistance, decent livelihoods and education, and aims to prevent onward movement into Western Europe. The programme also helps Syrian refugees make informed decisions about voluntarily returning to their own country when conditions allow.Proposed programme activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's development partnership objectives and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Official Development Assistance programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives and for their delivery on time and on budget. The programme undergoes regular monitoring and is rigorously reviewed annually to assess performance against its targets and objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme in preventing onward migration to (a) Europe and (b) the UK.

The Government is working with Turkey to help it manage the challenges of hosting approximately 2.3 million refugees, the majority of whom have fled conflict and persecution in Syria. The February 2023 earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border had a devastating impact on refugee communities, killing thousands and destroying much of the temporary accommodation in which they had been staying.The Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme helps to ensure refugees receive humanitarian assistance, decent livelihoods and education, and aims to prevent onward movement into Western Europe. The programme also helps Syrian refugees make informed decisions about voluntarily returning to their own country when conditions allow.Proposed programme activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's development partnership objectives and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Official Development Assistance programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives and for their delivery on time and on budget. The programme undergoes regular monitoring and is rigorously reviewed annually to assess performance against its targets and objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme encourages refugees to return to Syria and other countries of origin.

The Government is working with Turkey to help it manage the challenges of hosting approximately 2.3 million refugees, the majority of whom have fled conflict and persecution in Syria. The February 2023 earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border had a devastating impact on refugee communities, killing thousands and destroying much of the temporary accommodation in which they had been staying.The Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme helps to ensure refugees receive humanitarian assistance, decent livelihoods and education, and aims to prevent onward movement into Western Europe. The programme also helps Syrian refugees make informed decisions about voluntarily returning to their own country when conditions allow.Proposed programme activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's development partnership objectives and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Official Development Assistance programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives and for their delivery on time and on budget. The programme undergoes regular monitoring and is rigorously reviewed annually to assess performance against its targets and objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to her Department’s Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme, what discussions she has had with the Turkish government regarding the effectiveness of this programme.

The Government is working with Turkey to help it manage the challenges of hosting approximately 2.3 million refugees, the majority of whom have fled conflict and persecution in Syria. The February 2023 earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border had a devastating impact on refugee communities, killing thousands and destroying much of the temporary accommodation in which they had been staying.The Building Refugee Resilience and Inclusion in Turkey programme helps to ensure refugees receive humanitarian assistance, decent livelihoods and education, and aims to prevent onward movement into Western Europe. The programme also helps Syrian refugees make informed decisions about voluntarily returning to their own country when conditions allow.Proposed programme activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's development partnership objectives and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Official Development Assistance programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives and for their delivery on time and on budget. The programme undergoes regular monitoring and is rigorously reviewed annually to assess performance against its targets and objectives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships have been granted in each of the last five years.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which universities have enrolled the highest number of Chevening Scholarship and Fellowship recipients.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships programme on building lasting positive relationships between the UK and the home country of students.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether funding towards Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships is recorded as UK foreign aid spending.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether independent evaluations of the Chevening programme have been commissioned in the last ten years.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the proportion of people who were awarded the Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships programme and went on to work as (a) government officials and (b) industry leaders in their home countries.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the value for money for UK taxpayers provided by the Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships programme.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of Chevening scholars comply with the requirement to return to their home countries after study; and what enforcement mechanisms exist where this condition is breached.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the annual budget is for the Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships programme; and how this compares with the previous five years’ budgets.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the number of Chevening Scholarship and Fellowship recipients who have studied at Universities in Essex in the last 10 years.

For more than forty years since its establishment under Margaret Thatcher's government, the Chevening Programme has been creating long-lasting relationships with future generations of leaders, decision makers and businesspeople from across the globe. Information about funding and impact is available on the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/programme/GB-GOV-3-CHEVENING/summary) and in the most recent Chevening Annual Impact Report (https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-2023-2024-annual-impact-report/). Chevening's 60,000 alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government while around 15 per cent of alumni hold prominent positions in government and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the UK. Most have maintained close links with the UK and our overseas network, helping strengthen long term bilateral relationships, supporting the UK's international priorities, delivering trade deals and unlocking access to key stakeholders.In the financial year 2025-26, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) allocated £59.4 million to Chevening of which 97 per cent (£57.7 million) was defined as development spend. Further budget information, including on aid spending, is published in FCDO's Annual Reports and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-to-2025). Information on previous years is also available on the GOV.UK website. No decision has been made as yet on the future budget allocation for the Chevening scholarships programme.In the last 5 years, FCDO has awarded the following numbers of scholarships:Year2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21No. of Scholarships1,4011,3321,3591,3961,630We work closely with the Home Office on issues related to visas and migration. Scholars all agree to Chevening's return home policy when they apply for the scheme.An independent evaluation of the FCDO's scholarships programmes was carried out in 2023. Further details of this review including a copy of the UK Government's response to the review can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-public-body-review-of-fcdo-funded-scholarship-schemes-uk-government-response.190 Chevening scholars have studied at the University of Essex over the last 10 years.In 2025/26 the top 3 Universities in terms of enrolment were London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London and the University of Sussex.