Written questions by McMurdock.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide more effective support through (a) embassies and (b) consulates to UK nationals during crises abroad.

FCDO consular assistance is available 24/7, 365 days a year. We have improved the ability to expand our enquiry handling during a crisis through new digital telephony and AI tools.Whenever a major incident happens overseas and a crisis evolves that affects British nationals - a natural disaster or extreme weather event, a large-scale accident, civil unrest, terrorism or conflict - the FCDO flex and scale our consular response to support those who are directly affected. If a cross Whitehall response is required, the FCDO will lead and coordinate the UK Governments effort, this might include coordinating an assisted departure or an evacuation (as a last resort).The FCDO is committed to learning lessons from past crises and completes a lessons-learned exercise after every crisis response. These lessons enable the FCDO to improve processes and systems, and to review what has worked to enable better preparation and mitigation of future crises. The lessons are also implemented into the continuous training offer available to FCDO staff.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to improve coordination with local governments to expedite consular processes for British citizens.

The FCDO provides tailored consular assistance to more than 20,000 British nationals abroad in new cases every year and supports an additional c. 8,000 involved in long-running cases. In FY 2022/23 this included support to c. 4,000 arrested or detained British nationals, c.3,500 who were hospitalised and c.1,300 who were victims of crime. Consular staff also supported the families of c.4,900 who died overseas. Consular staff are contactable 24/7, 365 days a year. Staff across the FCDO network invest continually in relationships with governments, local authorities and third-party organisations around the world to enable the FCDO to support the UK's international priorities, including support for British nationals overseas.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister has received an invitation to the US President's inauguration.

The Prime Minister congratulates President Trump on his inauguration and looks forward to working with him. The US is a dependable ally.The precedent is that only Ambassadors based in Washington DC are invited to attend the inauguration ceremony as representatives of foreign governments. Individual MPs or notable figures from the UK and other countries may attend at the invitation of individual members of congress, or Party officials, but they will be attending in a personal capacity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will end aid spending to countries which have a space programme.

We are committed to taking a modern approach to international development and to using our Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending to achieve better development outcomes as part of a coherent international approach, with a strong focus on poverty reduction and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Over the coming months, Ministers will decide 2025/26 ODA allocations to lay the foundations for our ODA spending in future years. These will be published in the next Annual Report and Accounts.The next phase of the Spending Review will set departmental budgets from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on steps to tackle Islamic extremism in Europe.

Reducing the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism, violent extremism and extremism is a high UK Government priority. These threats are global challenges and international co-operation is essential. We already work closely with our European partners on all three topics, both bilaterally and through our close security relationship with the EU. We held our first dedicated UK-EU Counter Terrorism Dialogue in February 2024 and will host the next iteration in February this year. I regularly discuss joint-working with European counterparts to tackle terrorism, violent extremism and extremism in all their forms. I work closely with my counterpart, the Home Office Security Minister and other Ministerial colleagues, on these issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve collaboration with foreign authorities in investigating deaths of British nationals overseas.

FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas. The FCDO is not an investigative body, though can support families to engage with the relevant foreign authority investigating the death of a British national. FCDO staff can register interest in the death with local authorities, request information and signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to British citizens and their families in cases where (a) suspicious deaths occur abroad and (b) local investigations are perceived to be inadequate.

FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas, including in cases where the authority overseas is investigating a death as suspicious or where the family have concerns about the investigation process overseas. This support can include advising families on how to raise concerns about the local investigation; signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice; and, where appropriate, refer families to relevant partner organisations for further support. FCDO staff can also register interest in the death with local authorities and request information and/or convey any concerns the family may have. The FCDO welcomes feedback on its service and is committed to continuous improvement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the consular support available to families of British citizens who die abroad under suspicious circumstances.

FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas, including in cases where the authority overseas is investigating a death as suspicious or where the family have concerns about the investigation process overseas. This support can include advising families on how to raise concerns about the local investigation; signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice; and, where appropriate, refer families to relevant partner organisations for further support. FCDO staff can also register interest in the death with local authorities and request information and/or convey any concerns the family may have. The FCDO welcomes feedback on its service and is committed to continuous improvement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure a thorough investigation into the death in Turkey of Tyler Kerry.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family or our engagement with Turkish authorities. It is for local authorities to conduct investigations relating to deaths in their jurisdiction. With the consent of families, we can register our interest in investigations relating to British nationals and request updates on their scope and progress. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support the family of Tyler Kerry following his death in Turkey and (b) help ensure that their concerns about the investigation are addressed.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. FCDO support for bereaved families includes providing guidance on bereavement support; repatriation; and media handling alongside information about relevant police investigations. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family or our engagement with Turkish authorities. It is for local authorities to conduct investigations relating to deaths in their jurisdiction. UK police can pass on concerns from affected families to overseas counterparts via Interpol. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Turkish authorities on (a) access to evidence and (b) transparency in the investigation of Tyler Kerry’s death.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. FCDO support for bereaved families includes providing guidance on bereavement support; repatriation; and media handling alongside information about relevant police investigations. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family or our engagement with Turkish authorities. It is for local authorities to conduct investigations relating to deaths in their jurisdiction. UK police can pass on concerns from affected families to overseas counterparts via Interpol. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the family of Tyler Kerry following his death in Turkey.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family. However, FCDO support for bereaved families includes providing guidance on bereavement support; repatriation; and media handling alongside information about relevant police investigations. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department uses animal welfare in recipient countries as a criteria for determining aid development policies.

The Prime Minister is resetting Britain's approach to climate and nature, putting it at the centre of the UK's missions. Action on the climate and nature crisis will be central to the FCDO's priorities. There is no pathway to countries' development aspirations without climate resilience, action on the nature crisis and access to clean energy, and no pathway to a sustainable future without development that leaves no one behind.This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. That is exactly what it will do, and relevant departments will be outlining more detail in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of foreign aid for India.

Most of the FCDO's bilateral development funding for India is targeted at helping tackle climate change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This is primarily done through development investments in partnership with the Indian Government. We also provide expertise in areas such as offshore wind, in support of India's climate commitments.Ministers are reviewing the FCDO's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to ensure it delivers on our priorities. We are committed to transparency and will publish ODA allocations for 2024-25.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much aid his Department has provided to China in the last five years.

Between 2019 and 2023, total Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend to China was £206.2 million, including on Chevening scholarships and British Council activity. In April 2021, the FCDO committed to cut ODA funded programmes in China by 95 per cent from the 2021-22 financial year. No funding goes to the Chinese authorities.