Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to balance the level of consular support it provides citizens abroad and the need to maintain diplomatic relations with host countries.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Strong bilateral relations are essential to enable the FCDO to support British nationals overseas. This government is committed to building broad and deep relationships with countries across the globe to enable us to pursue our international priorities, including support for British nationals overseas.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister has received an invitation to the US President's inauguration.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister congratulates President Trump on his inauguration and looks forward to working with him. The US is a dependable ally.
The precedent is that only Ambassadors based in Washington DC are invited to attend the inauguration ceremony as representatives of foreign governments. Individual MPs or notable figures from the UK and other countries may attend at the invitation of individual members of congress, or Party officials, but they will be attending in a personal capacity.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will end aid spending to countries which have a space programme.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
We are committed to taking a modern approach to international development and to using our Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending to achieve better development outcomes as part of a coherent international approach, with a strong focus on poverty reduction and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Over the coming months, Ministers will decide 2025/26 ODA allocations to lay the foundations for our ODA spending in future years. These will be published in the next Annual Report and Accounts.
The next phase of the Spending Review will set departmental budgets from 2026/27 to 2029/30.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support the family of Tyler Kerry following his death in Turkey and (b) help ensure that their concerns about the investigation are addressed.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. FCDO support for bereaved families includes providing guidance on bereavement support; repatriation; and media handling alongside information about relevant police investigations. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family or our engagement with Turkish authorities. It is for local authorities to conduct investigations relating to deaths in their jurisdiction. UK police can pass on concerns from affected families to overseas counterparts via Interpol. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Turkish authorities on (a) access to evidence and (b) transparency in the investigation of Tyler Kerry’s death.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. FCDO support for bereaved families includes providing guidance on bereavement support; repatriation; and media handling alongside information about relevant police investigations. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family or our engagement with Turkish authorities. It is for local authorities to conduct investigations relating to deaths in their jurisdiction. UK police can pass on concerns from affected families to overseas counterparts via Interpol. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure a thorough investigation into the death in Turkey of Tyler Kerry.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family or our engagement with Turkish authorities. It is for local authorities to conduct investigations relating to deaths in their jurisdiction. With the consent of families, we can register our interest in investigations relating to British nationals and request updates on their scope and progress. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the family of Tyler Kerry following his death in Turkey.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been providing consular support to Mr Kerry's family since 29 November. Due to relevant data protection legislation, we are unable to discuss the details of the support we are providing to Mr Kerry's family. However, FCDO support for bereaved families includes providing guidance on bereavement support; repatriation; and media handling alongside information about relevant police investigations. Our sincere condolences and sympathies are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve collaboration with foreign authorities in investigating deaths of British nationals overseas.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas. The FCDO is not an investigative body, though can support families to engage with the relevant foreign authority investigating the death of a British national. FCDO staff can register interest in the death with local authorities, request information and signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to British citizens and their families in cases where (a) suspicious deaths occur abroad and (b) local investigations are perceived to be inadequate.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas, including in cases where the authority overseas is investigating a death as suspicious or where the family have concerns about the investigation process overseas. This support can include advising families on how to raise concerns about the local investigation; signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice; and, where appropriate, refer families to relevant partner organisations for further support. FCDO staff can also register interest in the death with local authorities and request information and/or convey any concerns the family may have. The FCDO welcomes feedback on its service and is committed to continuous improvement.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the consular support available to families of British citizens who die abroad under suspicious circumstances.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas, including in cases where the authority overseas is investigating a death as suspicious or where the family have concerns about the investigation process overseas. This support can include advising families on how to raise concerns about the local investigation; signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice; and, where appropriate, refer families to relevant partner organisations for further support. FCDO staff can also register interest in the death with local authorities and request information and/or convey any concerns the family may have. The FCDO welcomes feedback on its service and is committed to continuous improvement.