Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
We pursue our national interests and project the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.
Secretary of State
Dominic Raab
Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State
Ministers of State
Nigel Adams - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)James Cleverly - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
James Duddridge - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)Wendy Morton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Latest News (from Department Twitter Feed)
- 13 Apr 2021, 5 p.m.
- The Duke of Edinburgh completed 637 solo international visits to 143 countries in an official capacity, as well as the many visits accompanying the Queen. At the FCDO, we pay tribute to his life of service and dedicated role as a patron to over 760 organisations worldwide. https://t.co/HGumi3ST4d - Link
- 13 Apr 2021, 10:15 a.m.
- During his many official overseas visits, The Duke of Edinburgh met thousands of individuals across the Commonwealth and around the world. An Online Book of Condolence is now available for those who wish to send a personal message of condolence: https://t.co/kTYQ61MW7v - Link View All Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Tweets
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Commons Appearances
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:- Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
- Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
- Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.
Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Mar. 02 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| Apr. 13 | Urgent Questions | Chinese Government Sanctions on UK Citizens |
| Mar. 25 | Written Statements | Myanmar |
| Apr. 13 | Westminster Hall | Global Human Security |
| Mar. 25 | Adjournment Debate | Conflict in Tigray Region of Ethiopia |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has not tabled any Bills during the current Session.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Laid Secondary Legislation
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
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Laid 22 Mar 2021 In Force Not stated |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
Caribbean Development Bank (Tenth Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) Order 2021 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Draft affirmative procedure |
| This Order approves the making of payments on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom (“the Government”) to the Caribbean Development Bank (“the Bank”) of sums not exceeding £21 million as a contribution to the tenth replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified) (the “Fund”). The payment approved by this Order will be made pursuant to the Resolution adopted by the contributors to the Fund on 12th February 2021. The Order also provides for the redemption of non-interest-bearing and non-negotiable notes issued by the Secretary of State pursuant to arrangements between the Government and the Bank. | |||
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Laid 22 Mar 2021 In Force Not stated |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
Asian Development Bank (Twelfth Replenishment of the Asian Development Fund) Order 2021 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Draft affirmative procedure |
| This Order approves the making of payments on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom to the Asian Development Bank of sums not exceeding £117.64 million as a contribution to the twelfth replenishment of the Asian Development Fund (the “Fund”). The payment approved by this Order will be made pursuant to Resolution No. 408 adopted by the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank on 27th November 2020. The Order also provides for the redemption of non-interest-bearing and non-negotiable notes issued by the Secretary of State pursuant to arrangements between the Government and the Bank. | |||
Petitions addressed by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
| Current Signatures | Final Signatures | Title | Petition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
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221,245 c. 1,202 added daily |
227,574 (Estimated) |
Implement sanctions against the Nigerian Government and officials Sign this petition Gov Responded - 11 Nov 2020 Debated on - 23 Nov 2020 |
20 Apr 2021 closes in 4 days, 9 hours |
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The Government should explore using the new sanctions regime that allows individuals and entities that violate human rights around the world to be targeted, to impose sanctions on members of the Nigerian government and police force involved in any human rights abuses by the Nigerian police. |
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146,345 Petition Closed |
Impose sanctions on China over its treatment of Uyghur Muslims Gov Responded - 28 Jul 2020 |
6 Sep 2020 closed 7 months, 1 week ago |
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The UK Government plans to introduce “Magnitsky law”, a law which targets people who commit gross human rights violations. Through this law or alternative means, this petition urges the UK Government to impose sanctions on China for their human rights violations on the Uyghur people. |
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116,208 c. 926 added daily |
174,046 (Estimated) |
Urge the Indian Government to ensure safety of protestors & press freedom Sign this petition Gov Responded - 15 Feb 2021 Debated on - 8 Mar 2021 |
17 Jun 2021 closes in 2 months |
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The Government must make a public statement on the #kissanprotests & press freedoms. India is the worlds largest democracy & democratic engagement and freedom of the press are fundamental rights and a positive step towards creating a India that works for all. |
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Departmental Select Committee
Foreign Affairs Committee
Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.
Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.
11 Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 29 Jan 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 11 May 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee Member since 11 May 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee: Upcoming Events
<i>At 2.30pm: Oral evidence</i><br/>Dr John N. Nkengasong - Director at African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention<br/>Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw - Executive Chairperson at Biocon Limited<br/>Dr Mark Eccleston-Turner - Lecturer in Law at Keele University<br/><i>At 3.30pm: Oral evidence</i><br/>Dr Yanzhong Huang - Senior Fellow for Global Health at Council on Foreign Relations<br/>Mark Galeotti - Senior Associate Fellow at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)<br/>
20 Apr 2021, 1:45 p.m.
Global health security
View calendar
Foreign Affairs Committee: 16 Current Inquiries
Foreign Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Publications
Most Recent Publications
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 15 | Russia: UK and US expose global campaigns of malign activity by Russian intelligence services | News and Communications |
| Apr. 15 | Russia: UK exposes Russian involvement in SolarWinds cyber compromise | News and Communications |
| Apr. 14 | Ending the use of sexual violence in conflict | News and Communications |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Written Questions
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
Latest Written Question
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 2021, midnight | Cyprus: Politics and Government | Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East) |
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Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart ahead of the P5+1 talks on a political settlement for the island of Cyprus. Answered by Wendy Morton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) A Cyprus Settlement is in the best interests of both Cypriot communities, the wider region and the UK. The Foreign Secretary has therefore been actively engaged in support of UN efforts to find a Cyprus solution and will represent the UK as a Guarantor Power at the UN-led, informal talks from 27-29 April. The Foreign Secretary spoke to the Cypriot Foreign Minister on 22 March and the Turkish Foreign Minister on 23 March. The Foreign Secretary visited the island on 4 February and met President Anastasiades, Turkish Cypriot leader Tatar and the UN. The Foreign Secretary also met the Greek Foreign Minister on 2 February. The UK is urging all sides to approach the UN talks in a spirit of flexibility and compromise. During my visit to Cyprus (7-9 April), I reiterated this message and the UK's support for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue. |
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