Priti Patel MP: written questions
635 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Cost EffectivenessForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 24 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to deliver efficiency savings in his Department in (a) this financial year, (b) 2025-26 and (c) future financial years.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has made efficiency savings in this financial year through initiatives outlined in the Government Efficiency Framework. This framework was agreed between the FCDO and HMT during the 2021 Spending Rev...
Answered 13 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAttorney General's Office: MauritiusAttorney GeneralTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30615More
Question: To ask the Solicitor General, how many (a) meetings and (b) discussions (i) the Attorney General and (ii) his officials have had with the representatives of the Government of Mauritius since July 2024.
Answer: Since July 2024, the Attorney General and his officials have had one meeting with a representative of the Government of Mauritius.This was a courtesy meeting with Mr Gavin Glover, the visiting Attorney General of Mauritius, in January 2025.
Answered 19 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) meetings and (b) discussions (i) the Prime Minister and (ii) his officials have had with their Mauritian counterparts since July 2024.
Answer: Ministerial meetings with external organisations will be published in the usual way on gov.uk.
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordChina: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his next scheduled meeting is with representatives of the Chinese Government.
Answer: On 13 February, the Foreign Secretary met the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, in London. The Foreign Secretary does not have any further meetings scheduled with representatives of the Chinese Government at this point.
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many counter proposals the Government has received from the Mauritian Government on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since 3 October 2024.
Answer: It would not have been, nor would it be appropriate to provide a running commentary on private negotiations, not least given the national security issues involved. When the treaty text is finalised and agreed, it will be laid before Parliament, which will...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) meetings and (b) discussions (i) he and (ii) Ministers from his Department have had with their Mauritian counterparts since July 2024.
Answer: The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met the then Mauritian Prime Minister in London on 23 July 2024, and negotiating rounds led to political agreement between the Prime Minister and then Mauritian Prime Minister on 3 October 2024. The Prime Minister'...
Answered 24 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30608More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has agreed any changes to (a) the proposed treaty and (b) financial arrangements connected to the agreement with Mauritius announced on 3 October 2024
Answer: In the house I have said repeatedly that I will not provide a running commentary on this matter. We have reached an agreement with Mauritius, but the final text of the proposed treaty, as well as the financial arrangements are still being finalised and it...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordMauritius: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28493More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has received from his Mauritian counterpart since 15 January 2025.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary has received no direct representations from his Mauritian counterpart since 15 January.
Answered 17 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordBritish 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 record
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