Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Co-operation between the Prime Minister and the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, signed on 27 April 2023, what progress he has made on enhancing (a) youth mobility and (b) cultural exchange between the UK and Italy.

As close allies, the UK and Italy enjoy strong people to people links. On 27 April, Prime Minister Sunak and Prime Minister Meloni signed a Memorandum of Understanding that aspires to deepen these ties and we are continuing to explore opportunities to strengthen mobility and cultural exchange with our Italian counterparts. The British Embassy in Rome works closely with the British Council in Italy to promote bilateral cultural exchange, for example through programmes with a focus on disability in the arts and a cultural workshop at the annual Pontignano forum on 14-16 September.