Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a public consultation with the Chagossian community prior to the (a) announcement of the agreement with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory and (b) signing of the UK-Mauritius Treaty on 22 May 2025.

The negotiations were between the UK and Mauritius with our priority being to secure the full operation of the base on Diego Garcia. The UK Government regularly engages Chagossian groups and representatives at both official and Ministerial levels on a range of issues and will continue to do so.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to place China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to my response given to question 36632.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on continuing to fund the organisations tracking Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

The UK-led multi-donor Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) is providing more than £5.7 million of funding for support to the return and reintegration of children - of which the UK contributes a third. Through this fund, we have supported Bring Kids Back, Save Ukraine, and other leading child protection civil society organisations.In addition, the UK is an active member of the International Coalition for the Return of Children, whose work includes supporting initiatives to identify, locate, and return children to their families.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with (a) international partners and (b) representatives from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab Ukraine Conflict Observatory on the future funding of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab Ukraine Conflict Observatory to support its work on tracking Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

The UK is an active member of the International Coalition for the Return of Children, whose work includes supporting initiatives to identify, locate, and return children to their families. On the issue of tracking Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, we are working closely with the Government of Ukraine to identify which Open-Source Intelligence providers will best meet their needs to provide this data going forward.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 5 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty ,when he expects the Mauritian Government to establish a Marine Protected Area in the Chagos Archipelago.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the reply given to her question 59325.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the £290 million FCDO transformation fund announced in the National Security Strategy will be directed towards countering potential threats posed by China.

National Security is the first duty of government. As the National Security Strategy said on China, we will increase our China capabilities across the national security system to strengthen our ability to engage, as well as to enhance our resilience and readiness.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with which organisations he has held discussions on the development of the China Audit.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office China Audit team proactively engaged a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the full range of interests arising from the UK's relationship with China was represented; this included Parliament, business, the academic sector, civil society and the devolved governments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear programme since June 2025; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of strikes from Israel and the US on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office continues to have regular dialogue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at all levels, including via our Permanent Mission in Vienna and the Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Secretary last spoke to Director General Grossi on 26 June. We have taken every opportunity, including a public E3 statement on 30 June, to reiterate our support for the Director General and the IAEA's mandate in Iran, urging the Iranians to abide by their legal commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The IAEA has as yet not been able to report on the state of Iran's nuclear programme following US and Israeli strikes and I will not comment on intelligence matters in this response.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Israel, (b) the US and (c) other strategic partners in the region on Iran’s nuclear programme since June 2025.

The Foreign Secretary has had extensive discussions with Foreign Minister Sa'ar and Secretary Rubio on 22 June regarding how to tackle what remains of Iran's nuclear programme after major US and Israeli strikes on its facilities. Our objective is to encourage Iran to return to talks to reach a lasting diplomatic solution. We have also spoken to the Gulf Cooperation Council and other regional partners to this end since 13 June, as well as the Iranians on numerous occasions. We will continue to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal, including UN snapback if necessary, to reach a diplomatic solution.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help prevent Iran resuming its nuclear programme.

Alongside his French and German counterparts, the Foreign Secretary continues to work with Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Araqchi towards a durable nuclear deal which ensures Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. Military action alone cannot solve this issue for the long term. We'll continue to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon, including the snapback mechanism, if necessary.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 6 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty, what discussions he has had with his Mauritian counterpart on (a) visits to and (b) resettlement of the Chagos Archipelago since 22 May 2025.

These issues continue to be discussed with Mauritius as part of the implementation of the Treaty. The Government will not provide a running commentary on these conversations, but ahead of ratification, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement in both Houses on Chagossian eligibility for resettlement. It is our aim to restart visits at the earliest opportunity and we will provide further information on this later this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62580 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, whether he has budgeted for the first payment to Mauritius to be in financial year 2025-26; and if he will make it his policy to announce the budget lines each element of the payments to Mauritius will come from prior to the publication of the annual accounts.

I refer the Rt Hon member to the answer to her previous questions 57197 and 62580.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62574 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Cost Effectiveness, whether the FCDO2030 change programme has (a) key performance indicators and (b) outcomes; when she will publish details of the programme; and when she will provide an update on the programme.

The FCDO2030 Programme was set up in May this year and will establish key strategic outcomes alongside a set of metrics. Our strategic outcomes will be in pursuit of delivering tangible benefits for the British public, under the Plan for Change. We are currently restructuring the department to provide both efficiencies, and enhanced ability to deliver these outcomes, while developing the metrics in parallel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62574 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Cost Effectiveness, what savings he expects to make from the FCDO2030 change programme in each of the next five years.

As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Spending Review settlement, we will invest £290 million in capability-building and digital tools that will transform how we work over the coming years. FCDO will be a more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. We anticipate a significant reduction in terms of headcount across all staff by the end of 2028/29.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his speech at the British Chambers of Commerce on 20 March 2025, how many diplomats have been seconded to businesses since 20 March 2025; what the (a) cost and (b) staffing requirement will be of the Diplomatic Advisory Hub; which priority markets have been identified; whether he has set (i) targets and (ii) key performance indicators for ambassadors in priority markets; when he plans to announce the programme of domestic roadshows; on which dates the quarterly Lancaster House Business Engagement Series will take place in (A) 2025 and (B) future years; and which ambassadors have produced Strategic Economic Growth Plans.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is driving UK growth across the new Industrial Strategy's priority sectors through Strategic Economic Growth Plans. These prioritise markets with the biggest potential to drive UK Growth, including the EU, the US and China, and a range of other economically important markets, such as India and Japan. The Foreign Secretary chairs regular Delivery Boards to monitor and accelerate delivery across the FCDO towards the Government's Growth Mission, for which key performance indicators are being developed, and agreed. The FCDO is planning a number of events for the Lancaster House Business Engagement Series, including a first event set for July. The FCDO is progressing work on a range of business placements, the first due later this year, and working with the British Chambers of Commerce on plans for the Diplomatic Advisory Hub.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62581 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, whether his Department has made an estimate of the (a) yearly payment schedules for the duration of the lease and (b) related inflationary uplifts; and what estimate he has made of cash payments to Mauritius in years (i) one to 10, (ii) 11 to 20, (iii) 21 to 30, (iv) 31 to 40, (v) 41 to 50, (vi) 51 to 60, (vii) 61 to 70, (viii) 71 to 80, (ix) 81 to 90 and (x) 90 to 99 of the lease.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer to her previous question 57197.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 7 October 2024 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations, Official Report, column 46, on what evidential basis he stated that the UK has the right to extend the 99 year period.

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement in October 2024, the UK negotiated a right to extend the duration of the Treaty beyond 99 years. This formed part of the negotiations with the Government of Mauritius and was subsequently included in Article 13 of the Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the earlier draft of the UK-Mauritius Treaty from October 2024 gave the UK a unilateral right to extend the lease after the initial 99 year period.

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to Parliament in October 2024, the UK negotiated a right to extend the duration of the Treaty beyond 99 years. This was subsequently included in Article 13 of the Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 7 October 2024 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations, Official Report, column 46, on what evidential basis he stated that Mauritius will authorise us to exercise their sovereign rights and authorities in respect of Diego Garcia.

This formed part of the negotiations with the Government of Mauritius and was subsequently included in Article 2 of the Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the UN on the (a) remit and (b) activities of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization.

The Foreign Secretary and other Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ministers have not held meetings with the UN Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples ('C24'). The Deputy Permanent Representative of the UK Mission to the UN last met the C24 Bureau on 5 February.The Government supports the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the C24 directly. Ahead of the C24 discussion on the Falkland Islands on 18 June 2025, the Foreign Secretary and FCDO Ministers engaged a range of C24 members on the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination.