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 321–340 of 419 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2025 to Question 32985 on Diego Garcia: Military Bases, whether the proposed treaty announced on 3 October 2024 would have permitted the UK to unilaterally extend the lease for the base.
The treaty will allow the UK and US to continue to operate the base as we have done for the next 99 years, with a provision to extend and the right of first refusal.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have discussed the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme with their Chinese counterparts since July 2024.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials speak regularly with the Chinese Government about a range of issues. National Security is the first duty of government, and we will always act to protect it. Decisions on which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme are taken on a country by country basis, based on robust security and intelligence analysis.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department's China Audit will be completed.
The China Audit will conclude in spring 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 32981 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether provisions for the continuation of the current marine protected area are included in the proposed treaty with Mauritius; and if the proposed treaty includes restrictions on fisheries activities.
The agreement will be supported by an enhanced partnership between the UK and Mauritius on conservation. This partnership will prioritise high conservation standards, with the UK supporting Mauritius' ambitions to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that protects the globally significant ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago. The Treaty reflects both Parties' shared commitment to uphold international environmental law, ensuring high conservation standards across the Archipelago in line with global frameworks, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) other Government Ministers plan to meet with their Mauritius counterparts in 2025.
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. We look forward to future meetings with the Mauritian government and others as per the normal conduct of business.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the latest draft of the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty contains provisions for the UK being authorised to exercise the sovereign rights and authorities of Mauritius on Diego Garcia.
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, including control over the electromagnetic spectrum; 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. The details will be set out when the Treaty is laid before Parliament after signature.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will place China in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
It would not be appropriate to comment at this point or speculate on which countries or entities may or may not be specified in the future.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the (a) dates of and (b) names of those in attendance at meetings (i) he and (ii) his Ministers have had with representatives of the Chinese Government since July 2024.
Meetings between Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ministers and representatives of the Chinese government can be found through publicly accessible means either on GOV.UK or ministers' social media accounts. We cannot provide a full list of names in attendance for GDPR reasons.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 32981 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the transfer of sovereignty and (b) the consequences of the protections being changed of the current marine protected area on (i) biodiversity, (ii) protection of reefs, (iii) fish species and numbers and (iv) other plant and animal life.
The UK will assist Mauritius in implementing a new Mauritian Marine Protected Area in the Archipelago, which will extend to technical, financial, capacity-building assistance, fostering long-term sustainable management. The parties will work with international conservation organisations to ensure the implementation of science-backed strategies for conservation.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether changes have been made to the mechanisms by which the proposed lease of the military base on Diego Garcia can be extended in the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty since 3 October 2024.
The Treaty will last for an initial 99 years and may be extended for a further 40 years (and beyond) by agreement between the UK and Mauritius. The UK will also have the right to first refusal on the use of Diego Garcia which, if exercised, would prevent the use of the base by any other party.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Mauritian counterpart on maintaining the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area; and what representations he has received from his Mauritian counterpart on fishing (a) activities and (b) rights in the territorial waters of the British Indian Ocean Territory (i) now, (ii) in the future and (iii) in the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty.
The UK and Mauritius are committed to cooperating on combatting environmental threats such as illegal fishing, with a shared objective of protecting of the world's most important marine environments. This will include the establishment of a new Mauritian Marine Protected Area after entry into force of the Agreement.Before the signature and ratification of the Agreement, we have no plans to change the British Indian Ocean Territory marine protected area which is fully compatible with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea obligations.The British Indian Ocean Territory Administration operates a system of permits to control access to and activities within the Marine Protected Area. We also work closely with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to limit illegal fishing.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 28492 on the British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he shared the (a) initial proposed Treaty and (b) revised Treaty following counter proposals received by the Mauritian government with the new US administration.
We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration upon them taking office.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories on 5 February 2025, Official Report, col 760, on the future use of the electromagnetic spectrum, what discussions he has had with the International Telecommunications Union on this matter; and by what process the ITU could change the UK’s access.
The government does not routinely disclose private discussions with any organisation, nor disclose legal advice it may have received. International organisations, including UN Specialised Agencies such as the International Telecommunication Union, would be required to apply a binding judgment that the UK was not sovereign over the British Indian Ocean Territory. This would have real-world impacts on the protection and security of the base including our ability to operate the electromagnetic spectrum undisturbed.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the (a) financial implications and (b) costs of the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty.
The Foreign Secretary continues to hold regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues, including the Chancellor, on issues related to a treaty with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory and the base on Diego Garcia. The UK Government remains committed to reaching an agreement with Mauritius which is in the best interests of both parties.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Official Development Assistance will be used to fund the (a) trust fund for Chagossians and (b) economic partnership with Mauritius in the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty.
The treaty with Mauritius will include an economic partnership with Mauritius, of which one component will be the Trust Fund for Mauritius to use in support of Chagossians. Details of the Trust Fund will be published as part of the implementation of the Agreement after signature.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which ministers across Government have (a) been consulted and (b) taken part in negotiations on the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
The Foreign Secretary continues to hold regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues on issues related to a treaty with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory and the base on Diego Garcia. The UK Government remains committed to reaching an agreement with Mauritius which is in the best interests of both parties.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date he took the decision to formally invite the new US Administration to review the proposed treaty between the UK and Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration upon them taking office.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) his ministers and (c) officials from his Department have had with counterparts in the Commonwealth and Commonwealth member countries on reparatory justice (i) since July 2024 and (ii) subsequent to the most recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting; whether further such discussions are planned; and whether he plans to use ODA for reparatory justice measures.
We fully recognise the horrific impacts and the understandable, ongoing, strength of feeling on the transatlantic slave trade across communities in the UK and the Commonwealth family. Ministers have had no discussions with Commonwealth counterparts focused on reparatory justice since July 2024, and none are foreseen. If interlocutors raise reparatory justice, we make clear our position that we do not pay reparations. We are focused on working with Commonwealth partners to tackle the most pressing challenges of today including security, growth and climate change and building partnerships for the future.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list ministerial contacts with (a) ministers and (b) representatives of the government of Mauritius since July 2024.
The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met the then Mauritian Prime Minister in London on 23 July 2024, and negotiating rounds led to political agreement between the Prime Minister and then Mauritian Prime Minister on 3 October 2024. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations, Jonathan Powell, and Prime Minister Ramgoolam met on 25 November 2024. I met virtually with the Mauritian Attorney General on 16 January who had a subsequent meeting with our Attorney General on the same day. The Prime Minister spoke with Prime Minister Ramgoolam on 31 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 2024 and 13 January.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to deliver efficiency savings in his Department in (a) this financial year, (b) 2025-26 and (c) future financial years.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has made efficiency savings in this financial year through initiatives outlined in the Government Efficiency Framework. This framework was agreed between the FCDO and HMT during the 2021 Spending Review, and set out efficiency targets of £84.8 million to meet by the end of 2024-25. This was increased to £86.8 million during the 2023 Spending Review. The FCDO has met this target.To help drive out waste and ensure all funding is focused on the Government's priorities, the FCDO plans to achieve future efficiency savings through digital innovation, workforce optimisation and corporate process reform.