Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 59107 on Defence: Finance, whether the elements of FCDO’s programming budget will be formally included in the defence budget for 2027.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)'s non-Official Development Assistance budget primarily funds operating costs, including the UK's diplomatic capability, 24/7 consular services and rapid crisis response to support British nationals worldwide. The settlement also supports the FCDO's priorities across security, growth, migration and the UK's relationship with Europe, alongside constitutional obligations to the Overseas Territories. A portion of this funding will contribute to the UK's NATO-attributed defence spending, including FCDO-led programming in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and the Intelligence Community to counter cyber-attacks, election interference, disinformation and other threats to stability. The amount of the FCDO contribution is being worked though. It will not be included in the Defence budget for 2027.