Written questions by Dhesi.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken with (a) international counterparts and (b) the Secretary of State for Defence to remove explosive ordnance from areas that have previously been conflict zones.

The FCDO-funded Global Mine Action Programme (GMAP) is the Government's main programme for removing mines, cluster munitions and other explosive ordinance from previous conflict zones. GMAP currently funds clearance in Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Laos, Somalia, South Sudan, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe. The Integrated Security Fund also funds clearance in Sri Lanka and Tajikistan. In October 2024, the UK participated in a Ukraine mine action conference, that re-affirmed donor commitment to supporting Ukraine's national mine action strategy. In November 2024, the UK participated in the 5th Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Clearing legacy contamination is outside the remit of Ministry of Defence.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking to help ensure NATO member states meet the target of spending 2% of GDP on defence.

At the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in December, the Foreign Secretary and I called on all Allies to boost their defence spending. This is a strategic imperative and it is why the UK is committed to setting out a pathway to 2.5% of GDP at a future fiscal event. The Government welcomes that as of 2024 two-thirds of NATO are spending at least 2% of GDP on defence. We will continue to make the case with our Allies on the need to invest more in our collective defence.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in India on the detention of Jagtar Singh Johal.

We remain absolutely committed to pushing the Government of India for faster progress to resolve Jagtar Singh Johal's case. The Foreign Secretary has raised Mr Johal's case with his Indian counterpart on several occasions, most recently on 25 November. This is in addition to other UK Government Ministers raising the case with Indian counterparts, including the Prime Minister, who raised Mr Johal's case with Prime Minister Modi on 18 November. I raised Mr Johal's case on 19 November with the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the APPG report entitled Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance Report 2019: Why families in the UK deserve better and what can be done, whether his Department has taken steps to implement the recommendations of that report.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) engaged with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance following the publication of its report on 2 November 2019. The report's recommendations were taken into consideration in the development of the 2022 Consular Strategy. FCDO consular staff are available to offer appropriate and tailored support to British nationals and their families, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. The support we can provide is set out on GOV.UK in Support for British nationals abroad. The FCDO seeks continuously to improve our processes and services by acting on feedback and reviewing what we do.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's procedures are for informing relatives when a British national dies abroad in (a) non-suspicious and (b) suspicious circumstances.

When the FCDO Consular Directorate is first notified of the death of a British national abroad, consular staff will, wherever possible, arrange for the relevant police force to notify UK-based relatives as soon as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 14865 on British Council: Finance, what the planned expenditure of the British Council is for 2024/25.

The British Council's Corporate Plan for 2024/25 sets out its projected expenditure as £1,069.5 million and projected total income as £1,047.5 million.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how their Department defines strategy.

The definition is detailed in the Functional Standards Common Glossary, which is published on the gov.uk website.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps they are taking to use (a) artificial intelligence and (b) data to help increase their Department's productivity.

Artificial Intelligence and data offer significant opportunities for the FCDO to enhance decision-making, productivity and increase the effectiveness of its interventions.The FCDO is implementing a multi-year Digital, Data, and Cyber Security Strategy to transform its operational capabilities and ensure it has the digital backbone of technology, data and expertise to enable these. A new team, FCDO.ai, has been established to lead on AI adoption and ensure its responsible use.The FCDO is collaborating with partners across HMG and internationally, as well as with the private sector including start-ups and SMEs, to exploit shared opportunities and address the new and evolving security risks posed by these technological advances.