Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many people undertook an unpaid work placement in his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many such placements lasted for longer than one month.

All those who undertook work experience at the FCO between 2012-2016 were paid an allowance, except:

• The four participants on the Movement to Work Scheme in 2016, who each continued to receive their benefits during their two-week placement
• The two participants on a one-week Civil Service Work Experience (CSWE) placement in 2016. Participants received an advance payment to cover their travel and lunch costs
• 15 Social Mobility Interns between 2012-2015 on a two-week residential work experience programme. Participation was free and interns received an advance payment to cover meal and travel costs.