Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 26 September 2024 to Question HL1117 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Equality, how many staff in his Department have been permitted to undertake diversity-related network time during core working hours since 1 January 2025.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not hold the data requested. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 31747 on Radicalism, tabled on the 13 February 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I responded to Question 31747 on the 26 February 2025.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to retain the taskforce that identifies prominent extremists overseas.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Extremism has no place in our society and the Government is committed to tackling it in whatever form it takes. This includes Islamism and Extreme Right-Wing ideologies, which are the most prominent today. Further plans to tackle extremism, including the status of the taskforce, will be set out in due course.
The UK has robust safeguards to ensure visas are only issued to those who we want to welcome to our country. The Government's priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK. The Government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they represent a threat to our society. Coming here is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who seek to subvert our shared values.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the suspension of USAID on the UK's contribution to aid programmes.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across development sectors, geographic regions and multilateral organisations. We are gathering information and working with other donor partners to share analysis of the pause before making any decisions.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26628 on USA: World Health Organisation, whether he plans to increase the monetary value of the UK contribution to the World Health Organisation as a consequence of the departure of the United States.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26628, which can be found on the Q&A web pages: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-01-27/26628. Further information on the UK's support to the World Health Organization can be found in my recent Written Ministerial Statement: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-11-21/hcws243. The UK will continue to work with all international partners and the World Health Organization to create a healthier and safer world.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organisation on the UK’s financial contribution to that organisation.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
We have been consistently clear that US executive orders are matters for the US government and US people. In November 2024, the UK announced new funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in support of its delivery and transformation agenda. The UK will continue to work with the WHO, Member States and other partners to support WHO's ongoing transformation and to strengthen its efficiency, transparency and responsiveness.
Asked by: Joe Robertson (Conservative - Isle of Wight East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) internal policy reviews, (b) independent reviews, (c) external reviews, (d) taskforces, (e) public consultations, (f) investigations and (g) other reviews their Department launched between 5 July 2024 and 5 January 2025; what the titles were of those reviews; and how many of those reviews have been (i) completed and (ii) published.
Answered by Catherine West
This Government has outlined its ambitions through the Plan for Change, which sets out an ambitious set of milestones - across the missions - for this Parliament.
As the House would expect, Government continually reviews its work to ensure that it is delivering the best outcomes for the people of the United Kingdom, and that its policies continue to represent the best value for the taxpayer.
Headline findings from the Foreign Secretary's three reviews into Economic Diplomacy, Development and Global Impact will be available on Gov.uk as they are published.