Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2020 to Question 81911 on International Assistance: Security, for what reason records of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments were not maintained in accordance with his Department’s guidance which states once approval is given or withheld, the full assessment should be filed with the relevant Post and with the OSJA Lead.

Where a Minister withholds approval for Overseas Security and Justice Assistance that record is filed appropriately by the responsible Department. However, the FCDO does not centrally maintain a record of the number of occasions Overseas Security and Justice Assistance was withheld.