Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to respond to my letter of 15 August 2025 on Lord Mandelson; and when the Government will formally respond to the (a) Stage 1 and (b) Stage 2 complaints in the letter in line with the Cabinet Office’s complaints process.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon Member's correspondence. We will issue a reply shortly.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Prime Minister plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 August 2025 on Lord Mandelson; and when she plans to formally respond to the (a) Stage 1 and (b) Stage 2 complaints in the letter.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon Member's correspondence. We will issue a reply shortly.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the cost was of the resettlement package for Lord Mandelson when he moved to the US; and what estimate he has made of the cost of the resettlement package for his return to the UK.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The department does not publish details of individuals' cases.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the press release of the US Committee on Oversight and Government Reform entitled Oversight Committee Releases Records Provided by the Epstein Estate, Chairman Comer Provides Statement published on 8 September 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of the work of the UK Ambassador to the United States of America of the inclusion of the UK Ambassador's name in records released with this press release.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Honourable Member to the Urgent Question answer in the House of Commons on 11 September, Official Report, volume 772, column 1038.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister’s oral contribution at Prime Minister's Questions on 4 June 2025, Official Report, column 302, what the evidential basis is for the statement that China opposes the Chagos Islands deal.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The deal to secure the base on Diego Garcia is vital for our national security.
Our Five Eyes allies - the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada - as well as India, South Korea and Japan, all put out formal statements welcoming the deal.
There are clear safeguards in the treaty, including a clear prohibition to prevent any other foreign security forces, civilian or military - including the Chinese - from establishing themselves on the outer islands.