Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026
Letter to the Prime Minister and reply from Minister Malhotra, relating to the publication of the FCDO annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026, dated 09 and 07 July 2026
From: Foreign Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Summary
The Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) requested early publication of the FCDO's 2025–26 annual report and accounts ahead of a 14 July hearing with the Foreign Secretary and Interim PUS. Minister Malhotra declined the request, citing departmental constraints, but confirmed the FCDO Accounting Officer will give evidence on the accounts after publication following standard practice.
Key findings
- FAC sought publication by Thursday 9 July to allow review before 14 July evidence session on FCDO2030 reform, departmental priorities, and resource allocation.
- Government stated the laying date could not be changed at this stage, despite assessing the possibility.
- FCDO confirmed Foreign Secretary and Interim PUS will give evidence on Tuesday (14 July) on FCDO2030 programme and departmental performance.
- Government confirmed Accounting Officer will give evidence on annual report and accounts following publication, as per usual practice, at Committee's earliest convenience.
- Minister noted similar procedures (summer hearing before laying of annual report) have been followed in the past.
Government position
Rejects the request for early publication (by 9 July). Government states the laying date cannot be changed at this stage due to departmental constraints, though it confirms standard post-publication scrutiny procedures will proceed and offers Foreign Secretary evidence on 14 July as planned.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Dame Emily Thornberry MP, Seema Malhotra MP, Foreign Secretary, Interim Permanent Under-Secretary, FCDO Accounting Officer, Foreign Affairs Committee
Notable line
“Unfortunately, we are not able to change the laying date at this stage. However, the FCDO's Accounting Officer will give evidence to your Committee on the annual report and accounts following publication, as per usual practice.”
Key Quotes
“… it is essential that our Committee can sufficiently review the FCDO's annual report and accounts in advance of our hearing with the Foreign Secretary.”
“Unfortunately, we are not able to change the laying date at this stage.”
“… the FCDO's Accounting Officer will give evidence to your Committee on the annual report and accounts following publication, as per usual practice.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗