Written questions by Hollinrake.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance his Department provides on the provision of consular assistance to British nationals who also hold citizenship of the country in which they are detained or subject to legal proceedings.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, under what circumstances the FCDO may offer consular support or make representations on behalf of dual British nationals detained or charged in their other country of nationality.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British diplomatic posts may conduct welfare checks or monitor legal proceedings involving dual British nationals detained or charged in their other country of nationality.

Guidance on eligibility for UK consular assistance is publicly-available at GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/who-the-fcdo-can-support-abroad. If the Hon Member has a specific case that he wishes me to look into, he should write to me setting out the details.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson’s (a) salary and (b) allowances whilst a member of the Senior Civil Service were liable for income tax and National Insurance, and whether he was resident and domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.

The same tax rules applied to Mr Mandelson's remuneration as apply to all other permanent UK civil service staff working overseas on standard contracts for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has received representations from Inter Mediate on removing sanctions against Syria.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 3 June 2025 to Question 52690.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the written statement of 23 February 2026, HCWS1342, on Media Freedom Coalition, if she will take steps to protect British journalists from being (a) harassed and (b) intimidated by political actors in the United Kingdom.

I refer the Hon Member to the continuing absence of an apology from the leader of his party for her public attacks on the journalist Nadine White in January 2021, which led to extensive online harassment and abuse directed at Ms White, and which was condemned by organisations including the Society of Editors, the National Union of Journalists, the Resource Centre on Media Freedom in Europe, and the Platform to promote the protection of journalism.By contrast, this Government is committed to upholding media freedom and ensuring journalists are able to operate without fear of threat and harassment, both in the UK and around the world. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office plays a role in the UK National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which is led jointly at Ministerial level by the Home Office and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and we are also co-chairing the international Media Freedom Coalition, as set out in my written ministerial statement on 23 February (HCWS1342).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 113793 on Diplomatic Service, how many Notes Verbale have been issued to China since July 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he references in his question.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 113793 on Diplomatic Service, how many Notes Verbale have been issued to EU institutions since July 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he references in his question.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what interests Jonathan Powell declared whilst he was Special Envoy to the Prime Minister on BIOT negotiations.

There are established mechanisms in place for the management of interests. In line with long-standing practice, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not comment on individual cases.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 22 August 2025 to Question 69070 on Syria: Inter Mediate, whether there are any conditions on Inter Mediate receiving funding from foreign governments.

The same rules apply to Inter Mediate as all other UK charities, namely that they are free to receive funding from other governments, but have a responsibility to: (i) ensure that it is in the best interests of their charity when deciding whether to accept or refuse a donation, (ii) undertake necessary due diligence on the sources of funding, and (iii) comply with relevant legislation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Notes Verbale have been issued to foreign governments and supranational organisations since 4 July 2024.

The requested information is held on a number of different systems across the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and could only be collated for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson used a non-corporate email address for government business whilst Ambassador.to the United States.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 February in response to Question 110419.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 24250 on Lord Mandelson, whether Lord Mandelson declared membership of any third party organisations in his declaration of interest as Ambassador, including (a) trade unions, (b) advisory bodies, (c) charities and (d) other corporate bodies.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Chines Government made representation to her Department, outside of the planning process, on permissions for the proposed Chinese Embassy.

As the Hon Member knows, the decision on the planning application was made by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government independent from the rest of Government in line with his quasi-judicial role.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with the US Government on that Government's funding of UK think tanks and charities.

Ministers and officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are in constant discussion with their US counterparts across a wide range of issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101764 on Diplomatic Service, if she will publish the (a) manuals, (b) desk notes and (c) other guidance which outline those HR processes.

The Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code are already publicly-available on GOV.UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish the minutes of the meeting between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Inter Mediate of 22 October 2024.

Consistent with long-standing policy, the Government does not routinely publish the minutes of meetings held by ministers or officials with external organisations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 91405 on China: Embassies, on what statutory basis was the conditional diplomatic consent granted.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 28 October 2025 in response to Question 84207.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on whether the Chinese government’s sanctions on UK Parliamentarians, former Parliamentarians and their families have been removed.

I refer the Hon Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 2 February, and to the responses provided in the Private Notice Question debate held in the House of Lords on the same date.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105773 on Chinese Embassy: Royal Mint, if she will provide a summary of what the Note Verbale stated on the granting of permission.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer cited in his question.