Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to increase the number of personnel from his Department deployed to the Indo-Pacific region.

The Integrated Review in March 2021 affirmed the UK's increased focus and long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific. The UK has since increased its diplomatic presence in the region; examples include the opening of a new High Commission in Tonga (May 2021) and the official opening of the British High Commission in the Maldives (February 2022).

The UK's increased focus on the region is a whole of Government effort with many departments supporting roles at posts in the region. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is continuing to increase its presence in recognition of the importance of this region to UK interests.