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 81–100 of 419 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish all correspondence from (a) her, (b) her ministers and (c) her officials to the Planning Inspectorate regarding the Chinese Embassy planning application.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 29 October in response to Question 84208.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she had discussions with her Mauritian counterpart on the survey being conducted by the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee on Chagossian views on the Agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago.
The UK Government continues to engage with Mauritius on a range of issues related to implementation of the agreement between our countries, and I met the Mauritian Attorney General to that end on his last visit to London.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Israeli ministerial counterparts on (a) (i) the ceasefire in and (ii) aid access to Gaza and (b) the establishment of the International Stabilisation Force.
The UK is working tirelessly alongside our international partners to push forward all aspects of the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid, establishing an International Stabilisation Force, and removing Hamas from any role in the future governance of Gaza. We will continue to keep the House updated on the progress of this work over the coming weeks and months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials met with the Mauritian Attorney General during his recent visit to London.
The UK Government continues to engage with Mauritius on a range of issues related to implementation of the agreement between our countries, and I met the Mauritian Attorney General to that end on his last visit to London.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish her plans for (a) staffing reductions and (b) the reorganisation of her Department.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. An Overseas Network Review is running in parallel to ensure our global footprint is best able to deliver UK objectives. The department will set out further details in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of the Chinese government funding training places for Mauritian officials on the (a) security of the British Indian Ocean Territory, (b) the future of Diego Garcia and (c) the future of UK interests in the Indo-Pacific.
The Agreement between the UK and Mauritius secures the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. It contains robust provisions to ensure the security of the base and its continued effective operation, including a 24 nautical mile buffer zone around Diego Garcia and a ban on foreign security forces anywhere in the archipelago. The Agreement was tested at the highest levels of the United States' security establishment, across multiple agencies, and it has been backed by our key allies and international partners, including the US and all our Five Eyes partners.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has discussed the (a) level and (b) quotas of fishing that the government of Mauritius expect to permit in the Chagos Archipelago marine environment.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 November to Question 90684.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Pelindaba Treaty once sovereignty is transferred to Mauritius in accordance with the UK-Mauritius treaty on operations at Diego Garcia.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 11 June in response to Question 57628.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Israeli counterpart on the potential impact of Hamas' involvement in aid agencies and NGOs in Gaza.
The UK is working tirelessly alongside our international partners to push forward all aspects of the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid, establishing an International Stabilisation Force, and removing Hamas from any role in the future governance of Gaza. We will continue to keep the House updated on the progress of this work over the coming weeks and months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information she receives (a) daily and (b) weekly from the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Israel on (i) aid access, (ii) ceasefire violations committed by Hamas and (iii) planning for the implementation of the 20-Point Peace Plan.
The UK is working tirelessly alongside our international partners to push forward all aspects of the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the United Nations Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid, establishing an International Stabilisation Force, and removing Hamas from any role in the future governance of Gaza. We will continue to keep the House updated on the progress of this work over the coming weeks and months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85749 on Syria: Politics and Government, what quantity of chemical weapons has been identified.
As indicated in the answer referenced by the Rt Hon. Member, it will be for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to verify the types and quantities of any chemical weapons destroyed, but the UK remains committed to supporting the OPCW in that work.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff were employed in overseas postings in the 2025-26 financial year; and how many staff are forecast to be employed in overseas postings in each of the next five financial years.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to becoming a smaller, more agile organisation, better able to deliver tangible benefits for the British people. Staff reductions are being made strategically, with decisions guided by an organisational prioritisation exercise. An Overseas Network Review is running in parallel to ensure our global footprint is best able to deliver UK objectives. The department will set out further details in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the National Security Adviser on government to government communications with Russia.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given on 20 October to question 81835.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 88230 on Chagos Islands: Marine Protected Area, whether Mauritius has provided information on the annual quota for each fish stock to be granted in the proposed (a) 612,611 km2 Conservation Zone, (b) 2,251 km2 Habitat Protection Zone and (c) 7,261 km2 Traditional Zone for Resettlement.
We welcome the 3 November announcement by the Mauritian government confirming plans for the establishment of a Marine Protected Area after entry into force of the Treaty. The proposed zones of the future protected area will utilise the internationally recognised categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).There will be no commercial fishing across the entire 640,000 square kilometre area. The Great Chagos Bank will be given one of the highest levels of protection, with the rest of the Marine Protected Area categorised as a highly protected conservation zone. There will be limited provision for controlled levels of artisanal fishing in confined zoned areas intended for resettlement, to allow for subsistence fishing by any Chagossian communities that resettle, while maintaining the commitment to nature conservation.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what dates Chagos Contact Group (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department (i) have met with the Chagos Contact Group and (ii) plan to meet the Chagos Contact Group in the next twelve months.
The first meeting of the Contact Group, attended by myself and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025, and it will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what subjects were discussed at the meeting between the UK High Commissioner to Mauritius and the Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius at their meeting on 28 July 2025; and if she will publish the minutes of that meeting.
The UK High Commissioner to Mauritius met his Chinese counterpart for a courtesy call on 28 July 2025. Such calls are normal practice on arrival for new Heads of Mission. The High Commissioner has had no further formal meetings with the Chinese Ambassador.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what dates the UK High Commissioner for Mauritius has met with the Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius since 5 July 2025.
The UK High Commissioner to Mauritius met his Chinese counterpart for a courtesy call on 28 July 2025. Such calls are normal practice on arrival for new Heads of Mission. The High Commissioner has had no further formal meetings with the Chinese Ambassador.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, by what date has the Government of Mauritius requested that the first payment be made under the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
The first payment will be made on the first day of the month following the month of entry into force of the Agreement. Full details of the payments have already been published in the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the Treaty.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date she expects to publish the UK-EU treaty text on Gibraltar.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 61391.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, from which budget within her Department's resources she expects to fund her Department's contributions for payments to Mauritius under the UK-Mauritius Treaty.
Payments will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.