Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 57 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total cost to the public purse was of the production of his Department's Diego Garcia Military Base explainer video.
This video was produced in-house by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office communications team. There was therefore no additional cost to making the video.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if they will make it their policy to not provide (a) translation and (b) interpretation for speakers of non-UK languages for services provided by their Department.
Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether their Department plans to amend its policies on access to (a) toilets, (b) changing facilities and (c) other single-sex spaces in (i) Departmental buildings and (ii) other buildings within their Department’s remit following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain's Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC's updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling. The Government is considering the implications of the Court's judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) religious and (b) cultural holidays are observed by their Department.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) welcomes staff from all religions and beliefs and aims to ensure all staff are treated with dignity and respect. The FCDO's Faith Networks can nominate up to two religious holidays per religion (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism) to be observed each year. As a global workforce it is likely that British Embassies recognise additional religious and cultural holidays, which are celebrated in the country they reside in, as a mark of respect and to further understanding of the countries we operate in order to deliver better the outcomes for UK citizens.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment (a) of the potential merits of cancelling all foreign aid to Pakistan and (b) with the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the potential merits of using that funding for a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The UK has transitioned from a traditional aid relationship with Pakistan to a mutually beneficial partnership which underpins UK national interests, including working with Pakistan to tackle irregular migration, terrorism and organised crime. Some of the technical assistance we provide through UK Official Development Assistance is integral to these efforts. The Home Secretary has commissioned a National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2025 to Question 24737 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Mauritius, what estimate he has made of the number of rounds of negotiations there will be between the UK and Mauritius Governments on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory before the Government brings forward a Bill to make the necessary amendments to current legislation to implement a UK/Mauritius Treaty on this matter.
As we and Mauritius have repeatedly said, including in joint statements on 20 December 2024 and on 13 January, both sides remain committed to concluding a deal on the future of the Chagos Archipelago. Once the Treaty is signed it will be laid before both Houses for scrutiny under the CRaG process and a Bill will be brought forward to make the necessary amendments to current legislation to implement the Treaty.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will consider appealing the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruling on the UK's sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
We understand this question refers to the 2021 International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea case between Mauritius and the Maldives, which concerned a maritime boundary dispute between those two States. The UK was not a party to that case.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total cost to the public purse was of supporting the modernisation of the Albanian prison system.
In addition to work to disrupt Organised Immigration Crime and address the long-term drivers of migration, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office and the Ministry of Justice work together to enable the return of eligible Albanian foreign national offenders to serve the remainder of their sentence in Albania. As part of an arrangement signed under the previous government in 2023 to implement the 2021 Prisoner Transfer Agreement, £4.3 million was committed over three years to support the modernisation of the Albanian prison system. We are reviewing the operation of the Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Albania signed by the previous Government to understand how more prisoners can be sent back to serve their time in Albanian prisons. During 2024,1,610 Albanian FNOs were removed from England and Wales - the highest number of any nationality and up 7% from the previous year.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 27480 on Commonwealth Scholarships Programme, if she will list the (a) subject areas and (b) courses undertaken by those funded through the Commonwealth Scholarship in the last five years.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK publishes its Annual Reports, which provide information on the subject areas and courses undertaken by scholarship recipients. The most recent report was laid before Parliament on 17 December 2024 and is available on gov.uk. Further details can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/csc-annual-reports
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to ensure that every line of foreign aid spending must be approved by Parliament.
All government spending is approved by Parliament in the Budget. There are no plans to introduce new legislation for ODA spending.To support effective programme delivery, the publicly available FCDO Programme Operating Framework sets out the mandatory rules and the principles, controls, roles, and responsibilities for programme teams. We ensure delivery represents value for money by measuring and assessing programmes throughout their lifecycle and will work with the Independent Commission for Aid Impact to apply the highest standards to our ODA spend, including robust measures of development effectiveness.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the total cost to the public purse for the provision of diversity, equality and inclusion courses for staff in his Department in 2024.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have a centrally organised Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training offer, instead we use courses provided via Civil Service Learning. A small discretionary budget is available to support EDI work in line with the Civil Service EDI Expenditure Guidance and value for money, including to arrange training programmes according to evidenced needs. The FCDO will follow guidance from the Cabinet Office on publishing details of EDI expenditure.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26.
The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments in the usual way, in line with the approach taken under the previous Government's Health and Social Care Levy.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25832 on Pakistan: Development Aid and Visas, if he will make it his policy to raise potential punitive measures with his counterparts in Pakistan during future visits.
We continuously examine all levers at our disposal to deliver for UK interests, including in the removal of Foreign National Offenders to countries including Pakistan. This government is fully committed to making our communities safer by deporting those who break our laws. I raised this matter with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during my visit to Pakistan in November. Pakistan is an indispensable partner in keeping the UK safe from irregular migration, terror threats and organised crime, and some of the technical assistance we provide through UK ODA is integral to these efforts.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the (a) cost to the public purse and (b) nationality of each recipient of a Commonwealth Scholarship was in the last five years.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), provides post-graduate awards (Fellowships, Masters and PhDs) at UK universities to students from approximately 64 eligible Commonwealth countries and British Overseas Territories.Commonwealth Programme Expenditure:Financial yearCSC Grant-in-Aid (from HMG, including DfE)(£m)2020-2125.3132021-2228.2242022-2328.2242023-2428.2242024-2528.224Breakdown of recipients by nationality of the Commonwealth Scholarship for the last 5 years:Country/Territory20202021202220232024Antigua and Barbuda 21 Australia2 1 Bangladesh4440472927Belize 1122Botswana 121Cameroon1718221720Canada2 2 Dominica1 Fiji 1132Ghana5670505554Grenada 2 Guyana53 1India7291817689Jamaica42 54Kenya7955746178Kingdom of Eswatini26114Kiribati 1 Lesotho21332Malawi1731202531Malaysia 22 2Maldives 1112Mauritius 2122Montserrat 1 Mozambique53526Namibia28 22New Zealand1 1Nigeria16117414912689Pakistan4654446165Papua New Guinea2 11 Rwanda16951411Saint Lucia12 11Saint Vincent and The Grenadines 1 21Samoa 1Sierra Leone146131315Singapore 1Solomon Islands 3 South Africa6121089Sri Lanka2157137Tanzania2314203323The Gambia751085Togo 1Tonga 1 Tuvalu1 Uganda6453726359Vanuatu 2Zambia2627232215
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a breakdown of the (a) cost to the public purse and (b) recipients by nationality of the Chevening Scholarship in each of the last five years.
Chevening Scholarships provide fully-funded postgraduate masters awards at UK universities for future global leaders from approximately 140 eligible countries and territories. Chevening Programme ExpenditureFinancial yearTotal programme expenditure 2019 - 2020£57,744,779.512020 - 2021£50,397,000.002021 - 2022£59,233,000.002022 - 2023£58,994,000.002023 - 2024£59,330,000.00Annual costs for Chevening Scholarships can be found in the FCDO Annual Reports and Accounts on GOV.UK. The cost for each Chevening scholar varies between individuals, depending on factors including the cost of tuition fees, accommodation and flights. Breakdown of recipients by nationality of the Chevening Scholarship for the last 5 years:Country/TerritoryAwards made in 2019 (incl. full/part partner funded awards)Awards made in 2020 (incl. full/part partner funded awards)Awards made in 2021 (incl. full/part partner funded awards)Awards made in 2022 (incl. full/part partner funded awards)Awards made in 2023 (incl. full/part partner funded awards)Awards made in 2024 (incl. full/part partner funded awards)Afghanistan152329182113Albania16614111110Algeria899877Angola947887Anguilla223565Antigua and Barbuda233012Argentina251924211530Armenia939744Australia330234Azerbaijan9811965Bahamas211145Bangladesh131420152122Barbados322121Belize534555Benin111100Bermuda010000Bhutan345556Bolivia759846Bosnia and Herzegovina1359845Botswana957446Brazil574653474636Brunei Darussalam110113Burkina Faso 2Burundi555445Cambodia1791311129Cameroon151210588Canada214123Cape Verde040101Cayman Islands100000Chad021101Chile725444China603741333017Colombia251416141414Congo, Republic of001100Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The789248Costa Rica539456Côte d’Ivoire676848Cuba121111688Djibouti322401Dominica011213Dominican Republic11101411108Ecuador945646Egypt453339323129El Salvador623223Equatorial Guinea001100Eritrea110002Ethiopia162421131817Falkland Islands001000Fiji245667Gabon000000Georgia13915151310Ghana222119161714Greece211000Grenada011243Guatemala435341Guinea166144Guyana1065544Haiti421214Honduras333322Hong Kong222122Iceland211010India473841463836Indonesia605058454239Iraq222126221918Israel212110Jamaica181417161413Japan110123Jordan15121611710Kazakhstan8886912Kenya333938373630Kingdom of Eswatini964334Kiribati100001Kosovo51110956Kyrgyzstan645246Lao People's Democratic Republic879888Lebanon961191010Lesotho535366Liberia633146Libya181517181211Madagascar1183956Malawi1389867Malaysia383740383431Maldives456678Mali020124Mauritania134445Mauritius987665Mexico533940393733Moldova, Republic Of765765Mongolia7128111316Montenegro968745Montserrat412113Morocco11111391010Mozambique88111199Myanmar1291681010Namibia91415111311Nauru000101Nepal111217101213New Zealand311123Nicaragua435421Niger020024Nigeria564646444430North Macedonia777766Oman111000Pakistan493451474643Palestinian Territory, Occupied262023141310Panama7411555Papua New Guinea323583Paraguay151313141616Peru1871512910Philippines281634232221Republic of Korea242113121812Rwanda19109855Saint Helena010001Saint Kitts and Nevis001100Saint Lucia315443Saint Vincent and The Grenadines212433Samoa221334Sao Tome And Principe000020Senegal856546Serbia1510106710Seychelles323223Sierra Leone654656Singapore424353Solomon Islands403637Somalia111011111416South Africa443346354228South Caucasus324302South Sudan655656Sri Lanka67138910Sudan161718171716Suriname210002Syrian Arab Republic222124222019Taiwan (Republic of China)463455Tajikistan433435Tanzania18151516179Thailand241522172221The Gambia1098556Timor-Leste420222Tonga201234Trinidad and Tobago312222Tunisia141111867Turkey242123182223Turkmenistan410621Turks and Caicos Islands103124Tuvalu101010Uganda161624182417Ukraine212019422623Uruguay9798109Uzbekistan9885615Vanuatu000312Venezuela1079776Vietnam241925192322Virgin Islands (British)010220Yemen9614859Zambia231414121312Zimbabwe301012768We are withholding some country specific information under Section 38 (Health and Safety) exemption (1) (a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act, which provides that information is exempt if disclosure would or would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual or endanger the safety of any individual.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the withdrawal of the USA from the World Health Organisation will lead to an increase in UK contributions to that organisation.
We have been consistently clear that US executive orders are matters for the US government and US people. In November 2024, the UK announced new funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in support of its delivery and transformation agenda. The UK will continue to work with the WHO, Member States and other partners to support WHO's ongoing transformation and to strengthen its efficiency, transparency and responsiveness.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22425 on Pakistan: Extradition, whether the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan raised (a) restricting foreign aid, (b) restricting visas and (c) using other punitive international measures with Senior Ministers during his visit to Pakistan in November.
We recognise and appreciate the great contribution of Pakistani people to the diverse culture of the UK. Despite significant and complex challenges when seeking to return foreign national offenders, this government is fully committed to making our communities safer by deporting those who break our laws. I raised some of these issues with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during my visit to Pakistan in November, and the British High Commission continues to engage the Government of Pakistan at a senior level on this complex matter. I did not specifically raise these punitive measures with the Government of Pakistan during my recent visit.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the cost to the public purse is of the campaign to advocate for family-based care for children across the globe, announced on 17 January 2025.
The campaign to promote family care for children globally has not spent any additional UK funding on staff or programmes to date. We are assessing future requirements for staff and programmes to support the campaign.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list all meetings (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department have had on the transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Negotiations with Mauritius on sovereignty of BIOT / the Chagos Archipelago began in November 2022. Since then, there have been 13 rounds of negotiations, including two rounds under the current UK Government. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met the then Mauritian Prime Minister in London on 23 July, and negotiating rounds led to political agreement between the Prime Minister and then Mauritian Prime Minister on 3 October. The then Prime Minister's Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations, Jonathan Powell, and PM Ramgoolam met on 25 November. I and the Attorney General met with the Mauritian Attorney General on 16 January. This engagement has been supplemented by numerous official level meetings, and joint statements from the UK and Mauritian governments were issued on 20 December and 13 January.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on returning people from that country convicted for involvement in grooming gangs.
The UK has regular constructive discussions with Pakistani authorities on a range of topics of vital mutual interest, including criminal justice. Despite the complex challenges when seeking to return foreign national offenders, this government is fully committed to making our communities safer by deporting those who break our laws. I raised these issues with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during my visit to Pakistan in November.