Written questions by Wood.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122723 on Inter Mediate: Contracts, for what reason the agreement between her Department and Inter Mediate was classified as an Accountable Grant Agreement; and what the difference is between an Accountable Grant Agreements and a contract.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 30 March in response to Question 118788, and to the previous answer to which his questions refer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122723 on Inter Mediate: Contracts, if he will place a copy of the grant agreement with Inter Mediate in the Library.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 30 March in response to Question 118788, and to the previous answer to which his questions refer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 114881 on Jonathan Powell, how much Mr Powell was paid as Special Envoy for British Indian Ocean Territory negotiations.

Details of individual renumeration arrangements are not routinely disclosed. The Special Envoy's appointment and terms of engagement were agreed in accordance with established procedures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many phones Lord Mandelson used for Government business whilst Ambassador.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's publications FCDO Services spend over £25,000, October 2025 and FCDO Services spend over £25,000, November 2025, published on 5 January 2026, for what reason the October and November payments to Inter Mediate listed on the FCDO Development Tracker website are not reported in the FCDO transparency spending data.

The payments the Hon Member refers to were made by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), not FCDO Services. FCDO spending transparency data for the relevant period will be published in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued on whether a civil servant should be dismissed for dishonesty (a) on their job application and (b) in their (i) job interview and (ii) vetting processes.

Conduct during recruitment, interview and vetting is governed by the Civil Service Code and Civil Service Management Code, both of which are available online at GOV.UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 114881 on Jonathan Powell, if he will place a copy of the Envoy declaration in the Library.

The Special Envoy submitted a Declaration of Interests Form as per the long-standing procedures for an appointment of that kind. In line with the same procedures, such forms are not routinely published.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what is the monetary value of the London Allowance for FCDO SCS staff based in London.

The value of the Location Allowance for London-based staff, including senior civil servants, was increased from £3,250 per year to £4,250 in 2013. It has remained unchanged at its current level of £5,000 since April 2018.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the full termination payments to Lord Mandelson will be listed with direct reference to his name and the final amounts paid in the FCDO annual report and accounts.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 January in response to HL13467.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason her Department’s contracts with Inter Mediate are not on Contract Finder.

Contracts Finder is used for the publication of commercial contracts, rather than government grants, such as the Accountable Grant Agreements typically used by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to administer partnerships with NGOs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the (a) key performance indicators and (b) social value requirements were under the contract listed in the FCDO Conflict Resolution Department (CRD) Conflict Resolution Programme tracker with reference GB-GOV-1-400035-403.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 25 September to question 70453.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2026, to Question HL14050, on Haiti: Inter Mediate, whether Inter Mediate has undertaken any work for HM Government in relation to Iran.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 25 September to question 70453.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will place in the Library a copy of Peter Mandelson’s full contract as Ambassador.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 18 March in response to Questions 120607, 120615, 120620 and 120622.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether diplomats based in the British Embassy in Washington pay UK (i) income tax and (ii) National Insurance on (a) Cost of Living Addition (COLA) and (b) Diplomatic Service Compensation Allowance (DSA), and (c) their core salary.

All UK Based staff working overseas for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office pay UK income tax and National Insurance (for the first 52 weeks' service overseas) on their base salary. Cost of Living Addition (COLA) and Diplomatic Service Compensation Allowance (DSA) are both exempt from UK income tax and National Insurance deductions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has considered clawing back the exit payment made to Lord Mandelson under common law.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was granted STRAP clearance.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson completed his register of interests form electronically.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) her Department and (b) the British Embassy in Washington has an auto-deletion policy on emails relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 March 2026, what discussions the Permanent Under-Secretary had on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the Humble Address dated 4 February 2026 on what basis was a payout made to Lord Mandelson.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.