Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 61–70 of 70 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 53071 on Youth Mobility Scheme: EU Countries, whether he plans to make further bilateral agreements.
We have existing bilateral agreements with Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Luxembourg, which were negotiated by the previous government. The UK is open to further, fully reciprocal bilateral voting agreements but these would be subject to the detail of future negotiations.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department provides guidance on the installation of gender-neutral toilets in its estate outside the UK.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Design Guide asks for FCDO estates projects to provide sanitary provision in line with UK Building Regulations, including the Approved Document Part T: Toilets, with adaptations where required to suit more onerous local regulations or address cultural sensitivities.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Ministerial residence at 1 Carlton Gardens pays council tax as a (a) sole or main residence, (b) single person discount and (c) second home.
The Foreign Secretary pays the necessary council tax on 1 Carlton Gardens.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 35702 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Flags, whether his Department had previously applied for planning permission to fly that particular flag.
The bisexual flag was flown on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) internal Quad flagpole in September 2024. It was thought the flag would not be visible to the public, and so no planning permission was sought. It has subsequently been noticed that the flag may have been partially visible to the public through the FCDO's security gates if stood in the driveway.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 24157 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if he will list the organisations that the Department has received correspondence from.
The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. As you would expect, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has received correspondence relating to the planning application. We have no plans to release a list of the organisations, or individuals, that the FCDO has received correspondence from. The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary's written representations to the Planning Inquiry are publicly available.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 29073 on FCDO: Flags, what flags have been flown at ground level but visible from the public highway since 5 July 2024.
The bisexual flag was flown in September 2024 and the Union flag was flown in November 2024 on the internal Quad flag poles.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with Lowick on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is not aware of any discussions between its staff and Lowick on the proposed new Chinese Embassy.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's tender note entitled Procurement of a Contractor to build new British Embassy, Beijing, published on 2 October 2024, what the (a) timetable and (b) budget is for construction of the new Embassy; what consents are required from Chinese authorities, and what the status is of each consent.
We continue to work on the details of the timetable and budget for the new British Embassy in Beijing. We have submitted our planning application for the new embassy and as with any project, this would be subject to due consideration by Chinese authorities.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish any (a) electronic and (b) written communication from Downing Street to his Department on the Chinese Embassy before the decision was made to call in the planning application.
The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. Other Government departments have separately worked through considerations of the application. We have no plans to publish information relating to these conversations due to their sensitive nature.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Councillor Abdal Ullah of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on the call-in of the planning application of the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.
The Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with Councillor Abdal Ullah on the call in of the planning application of the proposed Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint Court.