Every parliamentary written question tabled by Priti Patel this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 407 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much from her Department's budget will be used to fund the payments required by the UK-Mauritius Treaty in (a) the current financial year and (b) each of the next five financial years.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers I gave her on 12 and 13 November 2025 in response to Questions 88232 and 88233.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help secure the disarming of Hamas in Gaza.
The UK is working closely with our international partners to ensure the implementation of the 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November 2025, including Points 6, 13, 14 and 17, which relate to the issues raised by the Rt Hon Member.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the full cost of capitalising the Chagossian Trust Fund in the UK-Mauritius Treaty will be met from (a) her Department's budget; and (b) be categorised as ODA expenditure.
The costs of the Treaty will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and are non-ODA funded.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the number of trucks of aid entering Gaza since the establishment of the Civil Military Coordination Center from (a) the UN and (b) other sources.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Ministry of Defence are in regular contact with UK staff in the US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre to ensure that UK expertise can support the US-led planning efforts for Gaza post-conflict stability. The specific data the Rt Hon Member has requested on aid trucks is not centrally held by the FCDO.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has held direct discussions with representatives from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.
The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with her Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. She has not held direct discussions with Major General Alian or any of his staff.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has held direct discussions with (a) General Frank, (b) British representatives and (c) representatives from other countries at the Civil Military Coordination Center.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Ministry of Defence are in regular contact with UK staff in the US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre to ensure that UK expertise can support the US-led planning efforts for Gaza post-conflict stability. The specific data the Rt Hon Member has requested on aid trucks is not centrally held by the FCDO.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 15 December 2025 on Chagossians and the Diego Garcia Base Treaty, HCWS1166, which British Chagossian associations will be eligible to submit recommendations for consideration to the Trust Fund Board members.
Following extensive representations and engagement by this Government, the Mauritian Government has confirmed that a UK-based Chagossian will sit on the Board of the Trust Fund alongside representatives living in Mauritius and the Seychelles. The UK High Commissioner to Mauritius will also attend Board meetings.We welcome these commitments by Mauritius which will ensure the Trust Fund reflects the full spectrum of perspectives within the Chagossian community. Further details, including the process for submitting recommendations for consideration to the Trust Fund Board members, will be confirmed in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British Chagossians will be required to hold Mauritian citizenship to be eligible for resettlement.
The UK Government has been in talks with Mauritius to ensure that resettlement is open to all Chagossians. The Mauritian Government confirmed on 12 December that all Chagossians born on the Archipelago before 31 December 1973 and their children will be eligible for Mauritian citizenship and therefore able to participate in any future programme of resettlement. Chagossians will be able to hold both British and Mauritian citizenship. As of April 2025, 94 per cent of Chagossians with British nationality also had Mauritian Citizenship. All Chagossians will remain eligible for British citizenship under the current Citizenship Pathway.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish all correspondence from (a) her, (b) her ministers and (c) her officials to the Planning Inspectorate regarding the Chinese Embassy planning application.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 29 October in response to Question 84208.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Israeli ministerial counterparts on (a) (i) the ceasefire in and (ii) aid access to Gaza and (b) the establishment of the International Stabilisation Force.
The UK is working tirelessly alongside our international partners to push forward all aspects of the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid, establishing an International Stabilisation Force, and removing Hamas from any role in the future governance of Gaza. We will continue to keep the House updated on the progress of this work over the coming weeks and months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials met with the Mauritian Attorney General during his recent visit to London.
The UK Government continues to engage with Mauritius on a range of issues related to implementation of the agreement between our countries, and I met the Mauritian Attorney General to that end on his last visit to London.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the Chinese government funding training places for Mauritian officials on the (a) security of the British Indian Ocean Territory, (b) the future of Diego Garcia and (c) the future of UK interests in the Indo-Pacific.
The Agreement between the UK and Mauritius secures the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. It contains robust provisions to ensure the security of the base and its continued effective operation, including a 24 nautical mile buffer zone around Diego Garcia and a ban on foreign security forces anywhere in the archipelago. The Agreement was tested at the highest levels of the United States' security establishment, across multiple agencies, and it has been backed by our key allies and international partners, including the US and all our Five Eyes partners.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has discussed the (a) level and (b) quotas of fishing that the government of Mauritius expect to permit in the Chagos Archipelago marine environment.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 November to Question 90684.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Pelindaba Treaty once sovereignty is transferred to Mauritius in accordance with the UK-Mauritius treaty on operations at Diego Garcia.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 11 June in response to Question 57628.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Israeli counterpart on the potential impact of Hamas' involvement in aid agencies and NGOs in Gaza.
The UK is working tirelessly alongside our international partners to push forward all aspects of the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid, establishing an International Stabilisation Force, and removing Hamas from any role in the future governance of Gaza. We will continue to keep the House updated on the progress of this work over the coming weeks and months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information she receives (a) daily and (b) weekly from the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Israel on (i) aid access, (ii) ceasefire violations committed by Hamas and (iii) planning for the implementation of the 20-Point Peace Plan.
The UK is working tirelessly alongside our international partners to push forward all aspects of the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid, establishing an International Stabilisation Force, and removing Hamas from any role in the future governance of Gaza. We will continue to keep the House updated on the progress of this work over the coming weeks and months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish her plans for (a) staffing reductions and (b) the reorganisation of her Department.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. An Overseas Network Review is running in parallel to ensure our global footprint is best able to deliver UK objectives. The department will set out further details in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85749 on Syria: Politics and Government, what quantity of chemical weapons has been identified.
As indicated in the answer referenced by the Rt Hon. Member, it will be for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to verify the types and quantities of any chemical weapons destroyed, but the UK remains committed to supporting the OPCW in that work.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff were employed in overseas postings in the 2025-26 financial year; and how many staff are forecast to be employed in overseas postings in each of the next five financial years.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. An Overseas Network Review is running in parallel to ensure our global footprint is best able to deliver UK objectives. The department will set out further details in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she had discussions with her Mauritian counterpart on the survey being conducted by the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee on Chagossian views on the Agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago.
The UK Government continues to engage with Mauritius on a range of issues related to implementation of the agreement between our countries, and I met the Mauritian Attorney General to that end on his last visit to London.