Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff in his Department have been allocated to deal with issues related to international trade in (a) each of the past five years and (b) the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works to promote a free and fair global trading system and provides diplomatic and international engagement support to Department of International Trade efforts to secure world-class trade agreements, advising on all aspects of foreign and development policy. FCDO also works with HMG partners to build effective economic partnerships, seize opportunities from investment and free trade, and unlock the mutual advantages of growth.

In September 2022, the Economic Security Directorate headcount (UK Based staff only), which covers staff working on the above objectives, was 100-119; in September 2021 it was 120-139. Prior to September 2021, data for staff working on trade in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was not recorded centrally. Following the Autumn Budget, the FCDO will be launching detailed Business & Country Planning and Workforce Planning processes, that will help determine workforce requirements from 2023-24 onwards.