Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 12 December (HL680), on what specific grounds within the Rules on Acceptance of Foreign Awards was former ambassador to Bahrain Roderick Drummond denied permission to accept the award given to him by the government of that country.

The Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a Note Verbale about the award for the previous British Ambassador on 5 June 2023. The Ministry was informed on 22 June that permission could not be granted, as per paragraph 18 of the UK Rules on Acceptance of Foreign Awards, which states permission, unrestricted or restricted, will not be granted, in particular, to Heads or other members of HM Diplomatic or Consular establishments abroad, for example when leaving their posts - whether on transfer or on final retirement.

The Government of Bahrain did not seek permission in advance of presenting awards to the two previous British Ambassadors to Bahrain. Where an award is conferred without permission, a Head of Mission, will not be given permission to formally accept, or wear, the award but is allowed to retain it. There is no requirement to return the award. Head of Missions are reminded of the UK Rules on the Acceptance of Foreign Awards on a regular basis.

Crown servants, including all civil servants, are subject to the Business Appointment Rules (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/business-appointment-rules) when accepting new appointments after Crown service. These form part of the Civil Service Management Code and apply to all civil servants intending to take up an external appointment or employment after leaving the Civil Service. For Senior Civil Servants such as the British Ambassador to Bahrain, these Rules apply for two years following their departure. Whilst in Civil Service employment, all staff must report any approach from an outside employer with an offer of an appointment or employment for which approval would be required under the Rules if they plan to follow up the offer.