Every parliamentary written question tabled by Priti Patel this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 419 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether papers from the previous Government were disclosed to Ministers in the Administration relating to the UK-Mauritius negotiations.
The Government has complied with the guidance set out in the Cabinet Manual on the access to papers of a previous administration.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 60851 on Gibraltar: Sovereignty, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the sovereignty clause on Gibraltar.
The sovereignty clause safeguards UK sovereignty over Gibraltar. It makes clear that the Treaty is explicitly not about Gibraltar's sovereignty. We are steadfast in our support for Gibraltar, which remains a critical part of our wider UK family.This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of cash payments to be made to Mauritius in each of the next 99 years under the provisions of the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; and what estimate he has made of levels of annual inflationary uplifts.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the reply to her question 57197.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral evidence given by the Minister for the Overseas Territories to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 23 June 2025, if he will provide written responses to (a) Q64, (b) Q76, (c) Q77, (d) Q78, and (e) Q79 before the end of the 21-day CRAG process.
Follow up will be provided by means of a letter to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, wth reference to the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether Mauritius can permit (a) vessels, (b) submarines and (c) facilities provided by other countries to be (i) established and (ii) based in the Chagos Archipelago.
The Treaty explicitly grants all rights and authorities that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base. We will retain full control over Diego Garcia with robust provisions to keep adversaries out. These include unrestricted access to and use of the base for the UK and US; a buffer zone around Diego Garcia; a comprehensive mechanism to ensure no activity in the other islands threatens base operations; and a ban on the presence of any foreign security forces.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department plans to provide to each of the Overseas Territories in each of the next five years.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) recently received its Spending Review (SR) settlement from the Treasury for the three years of the SR period (FY26/27 to FY28/29). Final decisions on funding for the Overseas Territories (OTs) in each of these years is subject to the FCDO's post-SR settlement multi-year internal allocations process which is expected to conclude later this year.In the current financial year (25/26) the FCDO is providing up to £168.37 million of programme funding to the OTs: £126.27 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) non-discretionary programme funding for the four ODA eligible Territories (Montserrat, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Pitcairn Islands) for essential services and critical infrastructure.£6.40 million in ODA discretionary programme funding for the four ODA eligible Territories, and£35.70 million in non-ODA discretionary programme funding for the non-ODA Territories to help meet our constitutional, international and legal responsibilities, and Ministerial and Territory priorities. It is delivered by several Government Departments and agencies through thematic, cross-Territory programmes and largely as capacity building support.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Article 1 of the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty will place (a) the Chagos Archipelago and (b) Diego Garcia under the geographical scope of the Pelindaba Treaty.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the reply to her question 57628.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what assessment he has made of the potential risk of Mauritius initiating legal challenges in relation to activities (a) at and (b) from Diego Garcia under the provisions of Article 4 and Article 7 of that Treaty.
The Treaty explicitly grants all rights and authorities that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base. The United Kingdom will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia comply with its obligations under applicable international law.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee, dated 16 June 2025, how much of the £200 million uplift will be used to make payments to Mauritius under the requirements of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Ministry of Defence (MoD). They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 58962 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what the previous currency was prior to the shift to sterling values; whether the indexation measure was changed between October 2024 and the Treaty being signed on 22 May 2025; and what changes were made in relation to the provisions on protecting the base.
The finance package was previously denominated in US Dollars. Transferring to Sterling reduced future foreign exchange risks for the UK and had no impact on overall cost. There was no change to the indexation measure between October 2024 and May 2025. I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to her previous question, 56761, on changes to the Treaty.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, If he has held discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the applicability of the Pelindaba Treaty obligations on (a) the Chagos Archipelago;and (b) Diego Garcia as a consequence of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
I refer the Rt Hon member to the reply to her question 57628.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the total funding contribution provided to Mauritius through (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral institutions (i) since July 2024, (ii) for 2025-26 and (iii) for each of the next five financial years.
UK Official Development Assistance can be found in the "Statistics on International Development (SID)." The UK Official Development Assistance spend in Mauritius from July 2024 is not yet available on SID and the latest data is up to 2023.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which (a) international treaties and (b) obligations will apply to (i) the Chagos Archipelago and (ii) Diego Garcia as a result of the transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius; and if he has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of those obligations on (A) the Chagos Archipelago and (B) Diego Garcia.
The Treaty ensures that its terms are compatible with the other international obligations of the Parties, current and future. The United Kingdom will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia comply with its obligations under applicable international law.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee, dated 16 June 2025, If he will publish the details of the FCDO2030 change programme.
We face a generational challenge to the UK's national interests. Our FCDO2030 change programme rises to this challenge, ensuring that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) people, resources and action deliver the greatest possible international impact for the benefit of the British people. Updates on this programme will continue to be shared.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether Mauritius can permit (a) vessels, (b) submarines and (c) facilities provided by other countries for research purposes to be (i) established and (ii) based in the Chagos Archipelago; and whether Mauritius can undertake joint research operations with other countries in the Chagos Archipelago.
I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer of 2 July 2025 to question 62645.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether there is an agreed definition between the UK and Mauritius of what is an artificial island.
The term "artificial island" will be interpreted in accordance with the rules of international law on the interpretation of treaties.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on assistance provided to Russia by (a) China and (b) Iran to resource military action against Ukraine.
Chinese companies continue to provide military and dual-use goods to Russia's military industrial complex. This is enabling Putin's invasion of Ukraine. We have repeatedly urged China to take all measures to investigate and to prevent Chinese companies from supplying Russia's military, including when the Foreign Secretary last spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 22 April. To date, the UK has sanctioned 35 China-based entities for supplying Russia's defence industry under the Russia sanctions regulations.Iran has supported Russia through its large-scale supply of drones, munitions, and ballistic missiles. In response to Iran's supply of ballistic missiles, the UK and its partners took actions including terminating our air services agreement with Iran Air and implementing new sanctions.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much bilateral aid he plans to make available to Ukraine in 2025-26.
We are proud of our fast, flexible, and responsive support to Ukrainians living through Russia's invasion. The UK has provided £5 billion of non-military support to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. The Prime Minister has said in Parliament that we will continue to support Ukraine, including for humanitarian purposes. On 9 May, the Foreign Secretary announced almost £25 million in new funding to support local Ukrainian organisations to protect the most vulnerable who continue to suffer from Russia's ongoing aggression. This forms part of our funding for 2025-2026 - final funding allocation decisions for the current financial year are ongoing and will prioritise support for those most in need.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what medical facilities he plans to make available to Ukrainians injured in the war with Russia.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has supported medical practitioners and the provision of medical services through funding partners, such as the World Health Organization, in Ukraine. We have supported the strengthening of Ukrainian rehabilitation systems through training and capacity building of Ukrainian healthcare staff; the provision of rehabilitation equipment to facilities across Ukraine; and support on health and social policy. Last year, the UK contributed to £320,000 of funding to the Superhumans War Trauma Centre in Ukraine. The clinic provides innovative rehabilitation services to people who have been impacted by war, including training surgeons on prosthetics. In addition, the Ukraine Red Cross Society, funded by UK assistance channelled through the British Red Cross, provides specialised training at the Burns Unit in Kyiv.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of public statements from representatives of (a) China, (b) Russia and (c) Iran supporting the agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands.
The agreement has been backed by key allies and international partners, including the US and all of our 5 EYES allies. India, Japan and South Korea have all also made clear their support for the deal. As US Defence Secretary Hegseth said, the UK's "very important deal with Mauritius secures the operational capabilities of the base and key US national security interests in the region. We are confident the base is protected for many years ahead."