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 41–60 of 419 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2026 to Question 105663, on Palestine: Terrorism, when she will undertake an assessment of (a) the number of recipients of ‘pay for slay’ payments and (b) alternative ways the Palestinian Authority is making payments to terrorists.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer she received on 12 January in response to Question 103247.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, What funding she provided to the Palestinian Authority (a) from 5 July 2024 to 31 December 2024; and (b) in 2025; and what funding she plans to provide in (i) 2026, (ii) 2027, (iii) 2028, (iv) 2029 and (v) 2030.
Details of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funding for the Palestinian Authority over the period 2024-2025 were set out in the Foreign Secretary's letter to the Foreign Affairs Committee dated 16 February 2026. Any decisions on funding for the period up to 2028/29 will be made as part of the FCDO's allocations process in the coming months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, if any funding provided by the UK Government has been used to support the Palestinian Authority’s ‘Pay for Slay’ payment schemes.
No. The UK's official development assistance to Palestine is directed at humanitarian relief, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what communications her Department have received from the Government of the Maldives on the Chagos Archipelago since 5 July 2024.
Further to the answer the Rt Hon Member was provided on 18 June 2025 in response to Question 57626, we continue to speak to our counterparts in the Maldives on a regular basis about a range of issues. However, I would reiterate to her that the question of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter for the UK and Mauritius, which is why the previous government launched negotiations with Mauritius on the issue in 2022, rather than with the Maldives.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Mauritian Government concerning that Government's plans for the resettlement the Chagos Islands in each of the next five years.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 13 February in response to Question 110763.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Mauritian Government on the internal domestic Mauritian processes and timescales to ratify the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
I refer the Hon member to the answer given on 13 February to question 110763.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) her ministers and (b) her officials had with Peter Mandelson during his tenure as Ambassador to the United States on the future of the Chagos Archipelago; and what discussions her Department had with Peter Mandelson on the future of the Chagos Archipelago prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the United States.
I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when (a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department held discussions with her US counterparts on the 1966 Exchange of Notes with the US on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since July 2024.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 December 2025 in response to Question HL12714. Any updates will be provided in the usual way in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has received advice on the UK unilaterally revising the 1966 Exchange of Notes with the US on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 December 2025 in response to Question HL12714. Any updates will be provided in the usual way in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her US counterpart on the future sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago since 20 January 2026.
The UK Government keeps in regular contact with our counterparts in the United States and Mauritius regarding progress on the implementation of the agreement. We do not intend to provide a running commentary on these conversations.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has received from her Mauritian counterpart on the UK-Mauritius Treaty since 1 January 2026.
The UK Government keeps in regular contact with our counterparts in the United States and Mauritius regarding progress on the implementation of the agreement. We do not intend to provide a running commentary on these conversations.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding has been provided to Mauritius under the UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework.
I refer the Rt Hon Member once again to the answers I gave her on 12 and 13 November 2025 in response to Questions 88232 and 88233.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Government of Rwanda on the UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership Agreement.
None. The UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership Agreement agreed by the Rt Hon Member in April 2022 was scrapped in July 2024, having cost the taxpayer £700 million. During the period it was in place, 84,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats, and the only individuals relocated to Kigali were four volunteers, each given five years of free housing, free food, free healthcare, and free university education, at a cost of £150,000 each.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an estimate of when the first payment under the UK-Mauritius Treaty will be made.
I refer the Rt Hon Member once again to the answers I gave her on 12 and 13 November 2025 in response to Questions 88232 and 88233.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on discussions between Lord Mandelson and (a) the US Administration and (b) the National Security Adviser on the future of the Chagos Islands during the period that Lord Mandelson was the UK Ambassador to the United States of America; how many times she has met with the National Security Adviser since her appointment; what information her Department holds on the remuneration including expenses paid to Lord Mandelson (i) during the period that Lord Mandelson was the UK Ambassador to the United States of America and (ii) following the announcement of his termination from this role; and if she will ask her officials to undertake a review of (A) communications and (B) meetings between Lord Mandelson and (1) businesses, (2) foreign governments and (3) any other organisations and people not working for the UK Government in his capacity as the UK Ambassador to the United States of America.
I refer her to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the speech entitled Foreign Secretary's speech to the British Chamber of Commerce, published on 20 March 2025, how many diplomats (a) have been seconded to businesses in 2025 and (b) are expected to be seconded to businesses in 2026 under the Diplomatic Placement Programme.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a critical role in delivering the Government's Growth Mission internationally. Heads of Mission in 41 markets are using Strategic Economic Growth Plans to identify opportunities for business and attract inward investment. In 2025, the FCDO hosted a UK-ASEAN Business Forum under the Lancaster House Business Engagement Series and delivered 23 Heads of Mission Roadshows across the UK, with further activity being developed for this year. We will provide further updates on the proposed Diplomatic Business Placement Programme in the normal way in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the letter of 14 January 2025 from the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the Planning Inspectorate on the Chinese Embassy planning application, whether she had seen plans for the basement before sending that letter.
An independent planning decision has been made by the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government. I can assure the Rt Hon Member that both the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have considered the full breadth of national security issues in relation to the proposed new Embassy.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which heads of mission have developed Strategic Economic Growth Plans.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a critical role in delivering the Government's Growth Mission internationally. Heads of Mission in 41 markets are using Strategic Economic Growth Plans to identify opportunities for business and attract inward investment. In 2025, the FCDO hosted a UK-ASEAN Business Forum under the Lancaster House Business Engagement Series and delivered 23 Heads of Mission Roadshows across the UK, with further activity being developed for this year. We will provide further updates on the proposed Diplomatic Business Placement Programme in the normal way in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the speech entitled Foreign Secretary's speech to the British Chamber of Commerce, published on 20 March 2025, what (a) programme of domestic roadshows and (b) Lancaster House Business Engagement Series events (i) took place in 2025 and (ii) are planned for 2026.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a critical role in delivering the Government's Growth Mission internationally. Heads of Mission in 41 markets are using Strategic Economic Growth Plans to identify opportunities for business and attract inward investment. In 2025, the FCDO hosted a UK-ASEAN Business Forum under the Lancaster House Business Engagement Series and delivered 23 Heads of Mission Roadshows across the UK, with further activity being developed for this year. We will provide further updates on the proposed Diplomatic Business Placement Programme in the normal way in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date she expects to complete ratification of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
We are considering the International Relations and Defence Committee (IRDC) findings carefully and will respond in full in due course. A date for ratification will be confirmed once both Parties have finalised all domestic procedures necessary to achieve ratification.