Asked by: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings (a) they and (b) other Ministers in their Department have had with the Department's Chief Scientific Adviser from (i) 1 December 2021 to 28 February 2022, (ii) 1 March to 31 May 2022 and (iii) 1 June to 31 August 2022.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Foreign Secretary was not in post during the time periods listed in the question. Between 1 December 2021 and 28 February 2022 the former Minister for Africa (Vicky Ford MP) met with the Chief Scientific Adviser once. During the period 1 March to 31 May 2022 former Minister for Asia (Amanda Milling MP) met with the Chief Scientific Adviser five times and former Minister for Africa (Vicky Ford MP) four times. During the period 1 June to 31 August 2022 former Minister for Development (Vicky Ford MP) met with the Chief Scientific Adviser on two occasions.
The meetings included virtual meetings, in-person briefings and group meetings.
The Chief Scientific Adviser provides all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on science and research activities.
Asked by: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings she had with her Department's Chief Scientific Adviser from (a) 1 March to 31 May 2021, (b) 1 June to 31 August 2021 and (c) 1 September to 30 November 2021.
Answered by Amanda Milling
Since her appointment as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP has met with her Chief Scientific Adviser three times during the period 1 September 2021 to 30 November 2021.
The meetings included virtual meetings, in-person briefings and group meetings.
The Chief Scientific Adviser provides all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on science and research activities.
Asked by: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings the Secretary of State for International Development had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from (a) 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020, (b) 1 June 2020 to 31 August 2020 and (c) 1 September 2020 to 2 September 2020.
Answered by James Duddridge
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers continually draw on science advice. Science is an integral component to the process of FCDO policy and programmatic decision-making, informed by the latest research and evidence, which is communicated to Ministers regularly largely through submissions, information notes and update paragraphs. The Chief Scientific Adviser also sits on the Executive Committee (ExCo), embedding science advice into FCDO's senior leadership's decision making. The former Secretary of State for International Development, The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, met with her Chief Scientific Adviser 9 times during the period 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020, 4 times during the period 1 June 2020 to 31 August 2020 and did not meet on the 1 or 2 September 2020. The Chief Scientific Adviser, and her office, provides all Ministers with regular written submissions and briefings on science and research activities.
Asked by: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser from (a) 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020, (b) 1 June 2020 to 31 August 2020, (c) 1 September 2020 to 30 November 2020 and (d) 1 December 2020 to 28 February 2021.
Answered by James Duddridge
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers continually draw on science advice. Science advice, and the use of evidence, is an integral component to the process of FCDO policy and programmatic decision-making. Scientific advice and the latest evidence is communicated to Ministers regularly, largely through submissions, information notes and update paragraphs, as well as in 1-1 meetings. The Chief Scientific Adviser also sits on the Executive Committee (ExCo), embedding science advice into FCDO's senior leadership's decision making. Beyond this, Ministers also regularly meet with the Department's Chief Scientific Adviser, and her office. I [Minister Duddridge] have personally met the Chief Scientific Adviser many times over the specified time periods, including 18 November 2020, 28 January 2021, with our most recent meeting on 3 March 2021. The Foreign Secretary most recently met with his Chief Scientific Adviser on 8 March 2021.
Asked by: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance he plans to issue to volunteers travelling internationally to undertake overseas development projects during the covid-19 restrictions announced in January 2021.
Answered by Nigel Adams
All individuals should follow the stay at home advice and should only leave home to travel internationally - or within the UK - when they have a legally permitted reason to leave home. Individuals should check the guidance for their personal circumstances before considering any travel, as well as any entry requirements in the destination country.
The Department of Health and Social Care, or the relevant health ministry in the devolved administrations, oversee domestic COVID-19 health restrictions. Further guidance on international travel can be found here online at www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#international-travel.
Asked by: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has now considered the report of William Shawcross on Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by James Cleverly - Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and other ministers across Government need to carefully consider the internal scoping report that Mr Shawcross has produced in order to do justice to the important and sensitive issues it covers. This has been challenging while the Government's main effort has focused on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains a priority.
Asked by: Greg Clark (Conservative - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser (a) from 1 September to 30 November 2019 and (b) from 1 December 2019 to 29 February 2020.
Answered by Nigel Adams
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have continued to have contact with the Department's Chief Scientific Adviser, and her office, during this period. Most recently I [Minister Adams] met with her on 11 March 2020.