Priti Patel MP: written questions
377 published records · newest first.
Written questions
British Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28492More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date the new US Administration began formal consideration of the proposed treaty with Mauritius.
Answer: We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration. Internal processes for the US Administration are for them to speak to.
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28023More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the announcement of the appointment of an interim president in Syria; and whether he recognises that posit
Answer: On 29 January, Ahmed Al-Sharaa was announced as Syrian President for a transitional period. We welcome Al Sharaa's announcement that he will form an inclusive transitional Government, leading to free and fair elections. This is a critical moment for Syria...
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: Internally Displaced PeopleForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28022More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the displacement of people in Syria since December 2024.
Answer: The UK continues to monitor displacement in Syria and provide vital assistance to support those displaced inside Syria and across the region. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over one million peopl...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28021More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what aid he plans to deliver to Syria in 2025.
Answer: The UK continues to provide vital support to those in need in Syria and Syrians across the region. We pledged more than £250 million in 2024, and in December 2024, we announced a further £61 million in support. Through the United Nations and international...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: SmugglingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28020More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent (a) arms, (b) drugs and (c) people trafficking through Syria.
Answer: We are taking a regional approach to help prevent arms, drugs and people trafficking networks through Syria. Our efforts include support to the Lebanese and Jordanian Armed Forces to tackle more effectively incursions by drugs and weapons smugglers from S...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSyria: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28019More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to (a) support the rights of (i) minority groups and (ii) women and girls and (b) promote religious freedoms in Syria since the appointment o
Answer: The Foreign Secretary met interim Syrian Foreign Minister al Sheibani on 12 January and stressed the need for an inclusive political transition. In our engagement with the interim Syrian authorities, we have consistently advocated for an inclusive politic...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPakistan: AhmadiyyaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to organisations working to protect the (a) rights and (b) safety of the Ahmadi Muslim community in Pakistan.
Answer: Promoting the rights of religious minorities is an important part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised Ahmadi rights when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November in Pakistan and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 Nov...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister discussed proposals to (a) reduce the length of term of the proposed lease and (b) make changes to the financial arrangements for the proposed term
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read-out of their meeting on gov.uk.
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding he plans to provide to Mauritius as part of official development assistance programmes in 2025.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ODA programme allocations for 2024/25 were published in a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS421) on Thursday 6 February 2025. We are prioritising predictability and stability after years of turbulence. M...
Answered 21 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he shared with the US Administration a copy of the proposed Treaty with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answer: We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration upon their taking office. Our primary goal throughout negotiations is to protect the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security....
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28014More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last discussed the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory with the (a) US and (b) Mauritius government.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary last spoke to the US Secretary of State on 27 January where they discussed a range of shared UK/US priorities, including the long-term protection of the base on Diego Garcia. Officials and Ministers have regular engagement with Mauri...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUNRWA: FinanceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28013More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how funding to UNRWA announced in (a) July 2024 and (b) December 2024 has been spent; and whether conditions were imposed on funding provided to UNRWA since July 2024.
Answer: The UK has committed £41 million for United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) this financial year, to deliver essential services for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to Palestinian refugees across the r...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHamas: UNRWAForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28012More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of reports of Hamas using UNRWA facilities.
Answer: The Prime Minister was pleased to speak with Emily Damari on 31 January and was deeply moved by her personal story. We are aware of the various reports since 7 October 2023 of Hamas using the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHamas: UNRWAForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28011More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the use of UNRWA facilities by Hamas since 7 October 2023.
Answer: The Prime Minister was pleased to speak with Emily Damari on 31 January and was deeply moved by her personal story. We are aware of the various reports since 7 October 2023 of Hamas using the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in...
Answered 11 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with US counterparts on the (i) the future sovereignty of the British In
Answer: The Foreign Secretary spoke with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 27 January. The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State discussed how long-term protection of the base on Diego Garcia is a shared UK and US priority. Ministers and offi...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordUSA: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consents are required from US Government to appoint the new UK ambassador to that country.
Answer: The UK follows the universal diplomatic process of agrément, as set out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on strategy towards China during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordIranForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26465More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on strategy towards Iran during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26464More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on the (a) future of the British Indian Ocean Territory and (b) military base at Diego Garcia during his phone call with the Presid
Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24422More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason his Department notified the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about the resubmission of the planning application for the Chinese Embassy i
Answer: In the anticipation of press interest in the application, FCDO officials notified colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) of the resubmission of the planning application for the Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets. Thi...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what verbal discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Chinese government on the planning application for a new Chinese Embassy in London since July 2024.
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role.
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish all (a) correspondence and (b) representations his Department (i) has made and (ii) received on the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy s
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. As you wo...
Answered 20 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDiego Garcia: Military BasesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has received from his Mauritian counterpart on the length of the proposed lease of the military base on Diego Garcia since 3 October 2024.
Answer: The agreement will have a duration of 99 years from entry into force, extendable with the agreement of both parties.
Answered 21 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordMilitary Bases: Diego GarciaTreasuryTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24155More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21589 on Military Bases: Diego Garcia, when she plans to publish the costs of the (a) proposed economic partnership and (b) Chagossian Trust Fund; and whether sh
Answer: The UK-Mauritius treaty, which will enable the continued operation of the base on Diego Garcia, alongside the structure of any associated financial obligations, still remains subject to finalisation and signature. It is not normal practice for the UK to c...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign Relations: ChinaTreasuryTabled 8 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 22601More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of closer economic ties with China on (a) the UK economy and (b) public finances.
Answer: The Chancellor visited Beijing and Shanghai for the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue. The government published a press statement and policy outcomes paper on Saturday 11 January which lists the outcomes for British businesses and the UK econo...
Answered 17 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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