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Written Question
Mandarin Language: Civil Servants
Friday 19th December 2025

Asked by: Jonathan Davies (Labour - Mid Derbyshire)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress her Department has made towards the introduction of a new China Fast Stream.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the statement made to the House by the previous Foreign Secretary on 24 June 2025. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is enhancing the talent pipeline of China experts by creating a specialised China Pathway within the FCDO's Fast Stream programmes. Starting with the 2026 Fast Stream intake, the China Pathway will enable a small number of new entrants to undertake a structured programme of China-focused jobs and training, including in Mandarin Chinese.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
UNESCO: 80th Anniversary

"It is the greatest pleasure of my professional life to be the MP for Mid Derbyshire. That is particularly true today, when we have been taken on a magical mystery tour of the best places across the UK and further afield. I thank colleagues for bringing their insight, knowledge, experience …..."
Jonathan Davies - View Speech

View all Jonathan Davies (Lab - Mid Derbyshire) contributions to the debate on: UNESCO: 80th Anniversary
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
UNESCO: 80th Anniversary

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for allowing time for this debate. It is a great …..."
Jonathan Davies - View Speech

View all Jonathan Davies (Lab - Mid Derbyshire) contributions to the debate on: UNESCO: 80th Anniversary
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
UNESCO: 80th Anniversary

"The right hon. Lady makes a good point. There are challenges associated with cultural landscapes and living sites, but there are many examples of where we can make that work. Having a national strategy would provide a shared view across Government Departments to best support the sites. I will say …..."
Jonathan Davies - View Speech

View all Jonathan Davies (Lab - Mid Derbyshire) contributions to the debate on: UNESCO: 80th Anniversary
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
UNESCO: 80th Anniversary

"That is a challenge. A few sites, including the one in my constituency, have a buffer zone in which development must be tightly controlled. We need to get more energy from renewables, but there is a balance to be struck at valuable sites such as the Giant’s Causeway, which welcomes …..."
Jonathan Davies - View Speech

View all Jonathan Davies (Lab - Mid Derbyshire) contributions to the debate on: UNESCO: 80th Anniversary
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
UNESCO: 80th Anniversary

"I know the intangible heritage there is in Stoke-on-Trent and I encourage my hon. Friend to join the all-party parliamentary group on UNESCO world heritage sites, of which I am the chair, because that might be a vehicle to progress the bid. She is very welcome to speak to me …..."
Jonathan Davies - View Speech

View all Jonathan Davies (Lab - Mid Derbyshire) contributions to the debate on: UNESCO: 80th Anniversary
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
UNESCO: 80th Anniversary

"Salts Mill is the gold standard of conservation and heritage restoration and the David Hockney paintings that can be seen there are truly remarkable—I encourage all colleagues to go to Saltaire and visit Salts Mill. My hon. Friend does a great job promoting what that wonderful community has to offer. …..."
Jonathan Davies - View Speech

View all Jonathan Davies (Lab - Mid Derbyshire) contributions to the debate on: UNESCO: 80th Anniversary
Written Question
International Assistance: Cooperatives
Tuesday 29th April 2025

Asked by: Jonathan Davies (Labour - Mid Derbyshire)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to provide specific (a) support and (b) funding to co-operative enterprises as part of its international aid strategy.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government recognises the important contribution cooperatives have made in serving local communities around the world.

Cooperatives are a tried-and-tested model in international development, that can enable citizens and producers to access services or markets and strengthen their voice in local processes. Cooperatives can enable sustainable and inclusive development centred on self-help, democratic ownership, and concern for the community. The UK has supported cooperatives and producer organisations in developing countries, including, for example in agriculture through funding to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), which supports producer organisations, and the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness Programme (CASA), which partners with cooperatives and small agribusinesses in low-income countries to improve smallholder farmers' access to markets.

Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments.