Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Mauritius have notified her of contact with (a) India and (b) other third countries to coordinate visits to the Chagos Archipelago.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to question 69814 on 3 September 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Mauritius has notified her of (a) plans for a future Marine Protected Area for the Chagos Archipelago and (b) measures to permit fishing.

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 MPA 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, whether she will consider the potential merits of commissioning a study of the environmental condition of the Marine Protected Area around the Chagos Archipelago prior to the transfer of sovereignty under the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to question 70431.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will set out the technical assistance her Department will provide to Mauritius for the Marine Protected Area under Article 5 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty; and what the estimated (a) value and (b) cost of that support will be in each of the next five years.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to question 70431.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with the Government of Mauritius on the potential presence of third countries in the Chagos Archipelago following the transfer of sovereignty under the terms of UK-Mauritius Treaty.

The treaty contains robust provisions to protect the base, including a 24 nautical mile buffer zone around Diego Garcia and a ban on foreign security forces anywhere in the archipelago. Any suggestions that Mauritius has been negotiating a lease on Peros Banhos are false. This was confirmed by the Mauritian Attorney General in a public statement on 20 October 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made provision in her departmental budget for the cost of payments to Mauritius under the UK-Mauritius Treaty in 2025-26.

The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether a representative of the government of Mauritius enquired with her Department about visiting the Chagos Archipelago prior to sovereignty being transferred; and whether her Department has been asked to facilitate visits with third countries participating.

I refer the Rt Hon. member to the answer given to question 69814.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK-Mauritius Treaty, whether payments to Mauritius will be accounted for as day-to-day spending.

The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence. They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will set out her Department's plans for staffing reorganisation including (a) the number of staff in each of the next five years and (ii) total staffing costs in each of the next five financial years.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is undertaking a phased restructure of its workforce in line with the Spending Review settlement. Further details will be set out in the usual way in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her joint letter with the Home Secretary to the Planning Inspectorate on the Chinese Embassy, dated 14 January 2025, what discussions her Department had with their Chinese counterparts on the planning application for the Chinese Embassy between 5 July 2024 and 14 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to question 24158.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the steps taken by the interim Syrian regime on (a) the (i) identification and (ii) the safe disposal of chemical weapons and (b) the protection of the rights of minorities since December 2024.

The UK welcomes the Syrian Government's commitment to ridding Syria of the Assad regime's chemical weapons. We continue to engage the Syrian Government to support their efforts to locate, secure and destroy chemical weapons left by the Assad regime. The UK has committed over £2.8 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to support the OPCW's verification of the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria.The UK welcomes efforts by the Syrian Government to protect the rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background. This includes their investigations into outbreaks of sectarian violence in coastal areas and Suwayda, and their facilitation of the UN to investigate human rights violations. We will continue to judge the Syrian Government on its actions not its words.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister discussed (a) Russian oil imports and (b) the refining of oil from Russia by Turkish-based companies during his meeting with the President of Turkey on 27 October 2025.

I refer the Hon. Member to the oral statement on Ukraine made by the Foreign Secretary on 15 October 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with countries who signed the Gaza peace plan on disarming Hamas.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, If she will publish a list of all meetings between Jonathan Powell and (a) ministers and (b) officials in her Department during which China was discussed.

It has been the clear, consistent and longstanding policy not to provide details on any of the National Security Adviser's meetings.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, If she will publish all (a) ministerial level contacts and (b) senior official level contacts between the UK and China since 5 July 2025.

Meetings between Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ministers and senior representatives of the Chinese government can be found through publicly accessible means either on GOV.UK or ministers' social media accounts. As per usual diplomatic practice globally, we do not publish details of all official level contact with China. This would not be possible for practical and policy development reasons.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with Chinese counterparts on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme since 5 July 2024; and what discussions (a) ministers and (b) officials have had with Chinese counterparts on their embassy planning application since 5 July 2025.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials speak regularly with the Chinese Government about a range of issues.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.The planning application has been called in by the former Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the current Secretary of State will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to his quasi-judicial role.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations her Department has received from Chinese counterparts on the China Audit.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials speak regularly with the Chinese Government on a range of issues. The reaction of Chinese officials to the conclusion of the China audit is a matter of public record, and a statement from the Chinese Embassy spokesperson is available online.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department agreed with Mauritius to frontload payments under the agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia.

I refer the Rt Hon Member back to the answer I gave her on 22 September in response to Question 75282. Under the terms of the agreement, the UK will exercise all rights and authorities which are required for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the base. The agreement robustly protects the national security of the UK and our allies.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UK-Mauritius agreement on the Chagos Archipelago on national security, in the context of trends in the number public officials in Mauritius trained by China.

I refer the Rt Hon Member back to the answer I gave her on 22 September in response to Question 75282. Under the terms of the agreement, the UK will exercise all rights and authorities which are required for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the base. The agreement robustly protects the national security of the UK and our allies.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department agreed with Mauritius that the UK would not have the right to unilaterally extend the lease on the base at Diego Garcia.

I refer the Rt Hon Member back to the answer I gave her on 22 September in response to Question 75282.