Question follow-through · 128057

Diplomatic Service: Vetting

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether ambassadors are required to have Developed Vetting security clearance in order to take up their role; and in what circumstances can any requirements be waived.

answeredForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office

About this written question

A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.

Answering body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Tabled
17 Apr 2026
Target answer date
21 Apr 2026
Answer
23 Apr 2026 · 6 calendar days after tabling

Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.

Recorded timeline

  1. 17 Apr 2026

    Question tabled

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether ambassadors are required to have Developed Vetting security clearance in order to take up their role; and in what circumstances can any requirements be waived.

  2. 21 Apr 2026

    Target answer date

    Date supplied by the official written-questions record.

  3. 23 Apr 2026

    Answer published

    I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 April in response to Question 128094.

Open official record

Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.

Later records

Possible follow-up questions

Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Vetting

20 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many people have been appointed to posts in her Department requiring developed vetting (DV) clearance despite DV clearance not being awarded since 5 July 2024.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Lord Mandelson

20 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Ministers in her Department were informed of the final outcome of Lord Mandelson's national security vetting.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Lord Mandelson

20 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the letter to appointment of 4 February 2025 on page 76 of Volume 1 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, whether Lord Mandels

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Lord Mandelson

20 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the letter to appointment of 4 February 2025 on page 76 of the Volume 1 of the Government response to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, whether Lord Man

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Lord Mandelson

20 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date Ministers in her Department first became aware that Lord Mandelson had not received full security vetting clearance.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Lord Mandelson

20 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference the UK Security Vetting document entitled DV - Guidance Pack for Applicants, updated 23 September 2024, whether Lord Mandelson's Developed Vetting security cle

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Olly Robbins

20 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the dismissal of Oliver Robbins followed due process.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Lord Mandelson

21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson’s STRAP clearance was a separate process to his Developed Vetting clearance; and whether it was subject to a separate (a) FCDO and (b) UKSV (i) review

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Lord Mandelson

21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson received training on his STRAP clearance; and on what date Lord Mandelson received that clearance.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Olly Robbins

21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any exit payment to Oliver Robbins will require a Ministerial Direction.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Jonathan Powell

22 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Jonathan Powell was subject to security vetting (a) before or (b) after he was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on the Chagos negotiations.

Unreviewed candidateSame MP and department; topic relationship is unreviewed

Jonathan Powell

28 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 124862 on Jonathan Powell, where in her Department's annual report and accounts for 2024/25 payments to Mr Powell were acc