Written questions by Hollinrake.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Rt hon. Member for (a) Tottenham and (b) Ashton-Under-Lyne made representations on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.

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, at what monetary thresholds do exit payments to departing Ambassadors or Heads of Mission need to be approved by (a) the Accounting Officer and Permanent Secretary of FCDO and (b) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury; and whether they need to be published by name of the civil servant in departmental accounts.

The guidance governing the approval of such payments is publicly available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-sector-exit-payments-guidance-on-special-severance-payments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2025, to Question 91404, on Embassies: Royal Mint, if he will publish the Note Verbale dated 4 May 2018 relating to the consent to the People's Republic of China for Royal Mint Court; and whether that Note Verbale was conditional on the Embassy obtaining the necessary planning and listed building permission.

The Government does not routinely publish Notes Verbales outside of legal proceedings, or comment on their contents, as they are regarded by international custom as private diplomatic correspondence and presumed confidential.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there was a cost to the public purse for external legal advice relating to the departure of Lord Mandelson as (a) Ambassador and (b) from the Civil Service.

The Government has established processes to seek external legal advice in line with normal practice. The Government does not routinely comment on specific legal advice that it may or may not have received.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92373 on Lord Mandelson, what the normal HR processes are for Heads of Mission.

They are the same processes that were in place when the Hon Member was in government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a copy of the model contract for Ambassadors and Heads of Mission.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office uses the Senior Civil Service template contract provided by the Cabinet Office as a basis for its contracts for Heads of Mission.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister’s Office was consulted on the terms of the exit agreement for Lord Mandelson.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 25 November to question 91398.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Q260 of the oral evidence given by her Department's Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 November 2025, HC385, if he will publish Lord Mandelson’s form.

As explained in the response to Question 91401 on 25 November, it has not been the policy under any government to publish the employment forms relating to individual members of staff.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Further to Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, Q258, if he will place a copy of the standard conflict of interest form, and associated guidance, in the Library.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 11 June 2025 to Question 57229. A copy of the standard Conflict of Interest Declaration Form will be deposited in the Library.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on the proposed (a) Embassy and (b) residence redevelopment in Beijing, and whether formal state consents are still needed.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response to Question 22931 on 16 January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Question 347 to 349 of Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, if he will place (a) a readout and (b) the minutes of the discussions between the Permanent Under-Secretary and the Chinese Government on the proposed Chinese Embassy in London in the Library.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) who will make this decision independently in a quasi-judicial capacity. Consistent with long-standing policy, the Government does not routinely publish details of meetings between officials and external organisations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Further to Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, Q262, if he will list the mitigations used to avoid conflicts of interest on Lord Mandelson’s shareholding in Global Counsel.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 11 June 2025 to Question 57229. A copy of the standard Conflict of Interest Declaration Form will be deposited in the Library.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, Q261, whether Lord Mandelson was asked to sell his shareholding in Global Counsel, or place the shareholding in a blind trust.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 11 June 2025 to Question 57229. A copy of the standard Conflict of Interest Declaration Form will be deposited in the Library.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether severance payments to heads of mission are exempt from Income Tax.

Payments made by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are subject to the same HMRC tax rules as any other organisation, as set out here: https://www.gov.uk/termination-payments-and-tax-when-you-leave-a-job.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister has been consulted on whether Lord Mandelson will receive a severance payment.

Lord Mandelson's withdrawal was subject to normal HR processes within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, How much his department has spent on alcohol in each month since July 2024, including those supplied by (i) invoice and (b) government credit card spending.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October 2025 to Question 83336.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84207 on Embassies, how many sites in the United Kingdom for premises of the Chinese Government have that consent; and in which locations.

The current list of China's unconditionally accredited diplomatic premises is published in the London Diplomatic List, available on GOV.UK. The former Royal Mint site received conditional diplomatic consent in 2018, and this remains conditional on securing the necessary planning and listed building consents from the relevant authorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Question 338 of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, what the threshold is for the publication of severance payments.

I refer the Hon Member to Annex 4.13 of the Managing Public Money guidance, most recently updated by HM Treasury in June 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2025 to Question 84207 on Embassies, whether the Royal Mint site has that consent.

The current list of China's unconditionally accredited diplomatic premises is published in the London Diplomatic List, available on GOV.UK. The former Royal Mint site received conditional diplomatic consent in 2018, and this remains conditional on securing the necessary planning and listed building consents from the relevant authorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish Lord Mandelson’s contract.

It has not been the policy under any government to publish the employment contracts of individual members of staff.