Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department takes to provide accountability and oversight of public money spent by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

We support the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat. We expect the Secretariat to use any funding we provide efficiently and effectively in line with its agreed budget, financial procedures and priorities. In addition to external audit, the Secretariat's budget is assessed by the Commonwealth's Executive Committee (ExCo) and Board of Governors. The UK is a member of both groups, represented by the UK's Commonwealth Envoy. Through attendance at these meetings we ensure that UK funds are allocated and spent in an efficient and transparent manner. We are committed to supporting the Secretary General's efforts to reform and revitalise the Commonwealth Secretariat and to working with her and our Commonwealth partners to strengthen the organisation.