Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the ministry of foreign affairs and a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom.
The office was created on 2 September 2020 through the merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the
The head of the FCDO is the
The FCDO is managed day-to-day by a
The expenditure, administration and policy of the FCDO are scrutinised by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.[3]
Responsibilities
According to the FCDO website, the department's key responsibilities (as of 2020) are as follows:[4]
- Safeguarding the UK's national security by countering terrorism and weapons proliferation, and working to reduce conflict.
- Building the UK's prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth.
- Supporting British nationals around the world through modern and efficient consular services.
In addition to the above responsibilities, the FCDO is responsible for the
Ministers
The FCDO Ministers are as follows, with cabinet ministers in bold:[8][9]
| Minister | Portrait | Office | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rt Hon. The Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton PC | .jpg)
|
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs
|
Overarching responsibility for the departmental portfolio and oversight of the ministerial team; Cabinet; National Security Council (NSC); strategy; intelligence policy; honours. |
| The Rt Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP | .jpg)
|
Deputy Foreign Secretary Minister of State for Development and Africa |
The Minister deputises for the Foreign Secretary in the House of Commons.
Other responsibilities include Africa; International Development Strategy, Official Development Assistance (ODA), Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI); British Investment Partnerships; international finance; global education, gender and equality (including scholarships); global health; humanitarian and migration; energy, climate and environment; Safeguarding; Research and evidence (including the Chief Scientific Adviser). |
| The Rt Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP | .jpg)
|
Minister of State for Indo-Pacific
|
China and Northeast Asia; Southeast Asia; Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands; Indian Ocean; economic security (including export controls); sanctions; economics and evaluation (including the Chief Economist); regulatory and economic diplomacy; technology and analysis. |
| The Rt Hon. The Lord Ahmed of Wimbledon | .jpg)
|
Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and United Nations | Commonwealth; Middle East and North Africa; Afghanistan and Pakistan; India; United Nations and multilateral; open societies and human rights. |
| The Rt Hon. The Lord Benyon PC | 
|
Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy
|
Held jointly with DEFRA. The Minister's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office responsibilities include:
Energy, climate and the environment; conflict, stabilisation and mediation; oceans; deputy Minister for Development and Africa |
| Nus Ghani MP | 
|
Minister of State for Europe | Europe (including Gibraltar); Eastern Europe and Central Asia; UK-EU relationship, including the Northern Ireland Protocol; national security; defence and international security (except export controls); conflict, stabilisation and mediation. |
| David Rutley MP | 
|
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Americas, Caribbean and Overseas Territories
|
Americas and Caribbean; Overseas Territories (including Falkland Islands); Consular policy; Parliament; Devolution; communications; Wilton Park and British Council; departmental operations; communications; legal. |
History
Eighteenth century
The Foreign Office was formed in March 1782 by combining the Southern and Northern Departments of the Secretary of State, each of which covered both foreign and domestic affairs in their parts of the Kingdom. The two departments' foreign affairs responsibilities became the Foreign Office, whilst their domestic affairs responsibilities were assigned to the Home Office. The Home Office is technically the senior.[10]
Nineteenth century
During the 19th century, it was not infrequent for the Foreign Office to approach
Twentieth century
During the
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1968–2020)
The FCO was formed on 17 October 1968, from the merger of the short-lived
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office held responsibility for international development issues between 1970 and 1974, and again between 1979 and 1997.
The National Archives website contains a Government timeline to show the departments responsible for Foreign Affairs from 1945.[15]
Under New Labour (1997–2010)
From 1997, international development became the responsibility of the separate Department for International Development.
When David Miliband took over as Foreign Secretary in June 2007, he set in hand a review of the FCO's strategic priorities. One of the key messages of these discussions was the conclusion that the existing framework of ten international strategic priorities, dating from 2003, was no longer appropriate. Although the framework had been useful in helping the FCO plan its work and allocate its resources, there was agreement that it needed a new framework to drive its work forward.
The new strategic framework consists of three core elements:
- A flexible global network of staff and offices, serving the whole of the UK Government.
- Three essential services that support the British economy, British nationals abroad and managed migration for Britain. These services are delivered through UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), consular teams in Britain and overseas, and UK Visas and Immigration.
- Four policy goals:
- countering terrorism and weapons proliferation and their causes
- preventing and resolving conflict
- promoting a low-carbon, high-growth, global economy
- developing effective international institutions, in particular the United Nations and the European Union.
In August 2005, a report by management consultant group Collinson Grant was made public by
- The Foreign Office could be "slow to act".
- Delegation is lacking within the management structure.
- Accountability was poor.
- The FCO could feasibly cut 1200 jobs.
- At least £48 million could be saved annually.
The Foreign Office commissioned the report to highlight areas which would help it achieve its pledge to reduce spending by £87 million over three years. In response to the report being made public, the Foreign Office stated it had already implemented the report's recommendations.[16]
In 2009, Gordon Brown created the position of Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to the FCO. The first science adviser was David C. Clary.[17]
On 25 April 2010, the department apologised after The Sunday Telegraph obtained a "foolish" document calling for the upcoming September visit of Pope Benedict XVI to be marked by the launch of "Benedict-branded" condoms, the opening of an abortion clinic and the blessing of a same-sex marriage.[18]
Coalition and Conservatives (2010–2020)
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In 2012, the Foreign Office was criticised by
In September 2012, the FCO and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic cooperation, which promotes the co-location of embassies, the joint provision of consular services, and common crisis response. The project has been criticised for further diminishing the UK's influence in Europe.[20]
In 2011, the then Foreign Secretary, William Hague, announced the government's intention to open a number of new diplomatic posts in order to enhance the UK's overseas network.[21][22] As such, eight new embassies and six new consulates were opened around the world.[23]
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2020–present)
On 16 June 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the merger of the FCO with the Department for International Development.[24] This was following the decision in the February 2020 cabinet reshuffle to give cross-departmental briefs to all junior ministers in the Department for International Development and the Foreign Office.[25] The merger, which created the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, took place in September 2020[26] with a stated aim of ensuring that aid is spent "in line with the UK's priorities overseas".[27] The merger was criticised by three former prime ministers – Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and David Cameron – with Cameron saying that it would mean "less respect for the UK overseas".[28] The chief executive of Save the Children, Kevin Watkins, called it "reckless, irresponsible and a dereliction of UK leadership" that "threatens to reverse hard-won gains in child survival, nutrition and poverty".[28]
In November 2021, it was reported that an employment tribunal had ruled that the FCDO had racially discriminated against Sonia Warner, a black senior civil servant, by treating her unfairly in a disciplinary process.[29]
On 21 February 2022, UK Minister for Africa announced a new £74 million financial package to support women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, who own businesses and small and medium enterprises (SME's).[30]
In 2022, Maria Bamieh settled an employment claim against the Foreign Office for more than £400,000 shortly before her claim was due to be heard by an employment tribunal. She said that the Foreign Office failed to support her when she attempted to expose corruption at the EU's rule of law mission (EULEX). The Foreign Office said : "We have agreed to settle this long-running case without any admission of liability and continue to strongly refute these allegations."[31]
Diplomatic Academy
Following a prior announcement by the then Foreign Secretary
Programme Funds
The FCDO, through its core departmental budget, funds projects which are in line with its policy priorities outlined in its Single Departmental Plan.
The FCDO plays a key role in delivering two, major UK government funds which work to support the government's National Security Strategy and Aid Strategy.[4]
- The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) – Used to support cross-governmental efforts at reducing conflict-related risks in countries which the UK has important interests.[33]
- The Prosperity Fund – Supports economic development and reform in the UK's partner countries.[34]
- The Global Innovation Fund – Invests in evidence-based innovations with the potential to positively impact the lives of people living on less than $5 per day.[35]
The FCDO also supports a number of academic funds:
- Chevening scholarships[36]
- Marshall scholarships[37]
- Domestic Programme Fund[38]
- Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund (Darwin Plus)[39]
- Science and Innovation Network[40]
2021 aid budget cuts
In 2021, the UK government cut its overseas aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of Gross National Income[41] despite UK legislation against such a move.[42][43] These cuts, amounting to GBP 4 billion,[44] reduced funding for humanitarian intervention by 44%[45] in places like Yemen and Syria.[44] It also cut funding for the fight against polio, malaria and HIV/AIDS.[46] Funding for girls education worldwide was also reduced by 25%.[47][48]
Investments
The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) announced the first two investments made under its 'Innovating for Climate Resilience fund', which was launched at COP26 with support from the UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and in partnership with the Adaptation Research Alliance and the Global Resilience Partnership.[49]
FCDO Services
In April 2006, a new
It is accountable to the secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs, and provides secure support services to the FCDO, other government departments and foreign governments and bodies with which the UK has close links.[52]
Since 2011, FCDO Services has been developing the Government Secure Application Environment (GSAE) on a secure
FCDO Services is a public sector organisation, it is not funded by the public and has to rely on the income it produces to meet its costs, by providing services on a commercial basis to customers both in the UK and throughout the world. Its accounting officer and chief executive is accountable to the secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs and to Parliament, for the organisation's performance and conduct.
Global Response Office
The FCDO Global Response Office is based in an undisclosed location. It operates 24/7, every day of the year. It takes calls from British Nationals overseas, usually in emergency situations such as lost passports, hospitalisations, deaths and arrests.[55]
Buildings
As well as embassies abroad, the FCDO has premises within the UK:
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office Main Building, Whitehall, King Charles St, London (abbreviated to KCS by FCDO staff)
- Abercrombie House, East Kilbride[56] (abbreviated to AH by FCDO staff)
- Secret Intelligence Service)
- Lancaster House, St James's, London. A mansion in the St James's district in the West End of London which the Foreign Office holds on lease from the Crown. It is used primarily for hospitality, entertaining foreign dignitaries and housing the Government Wine Cellar.
The FCO formerly also used the following building:
- Old Admiralty Building (abbreviated to OAB), Whitehall, London
Main Building
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office occupies a building which originally provided premises for four separate government departments: the Foreign Office, the India Office, the Colonial Office, and the Home Office. Construction on the building began in 1861 and finished in 1868, on the plot of land bounded by Whitehall, King Charles Street, Horse Guards Road and
In 1925 the Foreign Office played host to the signing of the Locarno Treaties, aimed at reducing tension in Europe. The ceremony took place in a suite of rooms that had been designed for banqueting, which subsequently became known as the Locarno Suite.[58] During the Second World War, the Locarno Suite's fine furnishings were removed or covered up, and it became home to a Foreign Office code-breaking department.[58]
Due to increasing numbers of staff, the offices became increasingly cramped and much of the fine
With a new sense of the building's historical value, it underwent a 17-year, £100 million restoration process, completed in 1997.
In 2014 refurbishment to accommodate all Foreign and Commonwealth Office employees into one building was started by Mace.[59]
Devolution
International relations are handled centrally from Whitehall on behalf of the whole of the United Kingdom and its dependencies. However, the devolved administrations also maintain an overseas presence in the European Union, the U.S. and China alongside British diplomatic missions. These offices aim to promote their own economies and ensure that devolved interests are taken into account in British foreign policy. Ministers from devolved administrations can attend international negotiations when agreed with the British Government, e.g. EU fisheries negotiations.[60]
See also
- Conflict, Stability and Security Fund
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office migrated archives
- Palmerston (cat), former resident Chief Mouser of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Stabilisation Unit
- List of development aid agencies
References
- ^ Foreign Office Settlement. London: HM Treasury. 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "FCDO Board Non-executive Director". UK Government. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020.
- ^ "Foreign Affairs Committee". UK Parliament. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
The Foreign Affairs Committee examines the expenditure, administration and policy of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and other bodies associated with the Foreign Office
- ^ a b c d "About us". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ISBN 9780101837422.
- ^ "Oral evidence: Future of the UK Overseas Territories". House of Commons. 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Global Britain and the British Overseas Territories: Resetting the relationship". publications.parliament.uk.
- ^
This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Our ministers". GOV.UK. Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "His Majesty's Official Opposition". UK Parliament. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ A brief history of the FCO Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- ^ Weller, Toni (June 2010). "The Victorian information age: nineteenth century answers to today's information policy questions?". History & Policy. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ^ Berridge, G. R. "A Diplomatic Whistleblower in the Victorian Era" (PDF). grberridge.diplomacy.edu. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Women and the Foreign Office". Issu.com. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ "The Foreign and Commonwealth Ministries merge". The Glasgow Herald. 17 October 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ^ The National Archives. "The National Archives – Homepage". labs.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
- ^ "Foreign Office management damned". BBC News. 4 August 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ Clary, David (16 September 2013). "A Scientist in the Foreign Office". Science & Diplomacy. 2 (3).
- ^ "Apology over Pope 'condom' memo". BBC News. 25 April 2010.
- ^ "Investigate UK funding of Palestinian NGOs". thejc.com.
- ^ Gaspers, Jan (November 2012). "At the Helm of a New Commonwealth Diplomatic Network: In the United Kingdom's Interest?". Retrieved 26 November 2012.
- ISBN 9781849549660.
- ^ "Looking after our own: strengthening Britain's consular diplomacy". UK Government. 4 April 2012.
- ^ "William Hague: Britain will have a global diplomatic network and the best diplomatic service in the world". ConservativeHome. 19 April 2012.
- ^ "International development and Foreign Office to merge". BBC News. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Joint ministerial team at Foreign Office and DfID reignites merger rumours". Civil Service World. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Foreign Office and International Development merger will curb 'giant cashpoint' of UK aid, PM pledges". Sky News. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ "Prime Minister announces merger of Department for International Development and Foreign Office". GOV.UK. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Syal, Rajeev (30 November 2021). "FCDO racially discriminated against black civil servant, tribunal rules 30 November 2021". Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ "UK boosts access to finance for women-owned businesses and clean energy projects in Nigeria". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
- ^ Syal, Rajeev (3 July 2022). "Foreign Office to pay £423,000 to whistleblowing lawyer who lost job". theguardian.com. Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Opening of new Diplomatic Academy". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "About us". UK Government. Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.
- ^ "Cross-Government Prosperity Fund". UK Government. 22 December 2015.
- ^ "Global Innovation Fund". UK Government. 14 October 2014.
- ^ "Chevening".
Chevening Awards are supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- ^ "Who we are". Marshal Scholarships.
Marshall Scholarships are mainly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- ^ "Forced marriage". UK Government. Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Home Office. 20 March 2013.
The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) is a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office unit
- UK Government. Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 22 May 2014.
UK Government policy advisers from... Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- ^ "UK Science and Innovation Network". UK Government.
Part of: Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- ^ "Government wins vote to lock in cuts to overseas aid". BBC News. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ "What Does UK Law Say on Aid?: How New Development Secretary Mordaunt Can Meet her Aid Effectiveness Pledge". Center For Global Development. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Foreign aid: Government decision to cut budget 'unlawful', says peer". BBC News. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Britain's aid cuts: what's been announced so far". The Guardian. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ Hatch, Jonathan (7 May 2021). "UK aid cuts: reactions from the UK and beyond". Bond. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Tracking the UK's controversial aid cuts". Devex. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Charity warns UK aid priorities to see 63% cut in funding". BBC News. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "An Overview of the Impact of Proposed Cuts to UK Aid". Center For Global Development. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Global Innovation Fund announces first round of investments under its 'Innovating for Climate Resilience' fund". MaxiNews. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs". Hansard. March 2006.
- ^ "The FCO Services Trading Fund Order 2008". UK Legislation. National Archives. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "Who we are". FCO Services. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- ^ Say, Mark (21 July 2011). "FCO Services pushes secure cloud platform". Guardian Government Computing. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "UK NACE – The UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping". FCDO Services. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ Travel, FCDO (6 March 2013). "Switching night and day – life in the Global Response Centre | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs". Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ "About us". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Foreign & Commonwealth Office History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Route" (PDF). FCO. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2012.
- ^ "Mace wins £20m Whitehall Foreign Office refit". constructionenquirer.com.
- ^ "Scottish gains at Euro fish talks". Scottish Government. 16 December 2009.
Further reading
- Allen, David; Oliver, Tim (2006). The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (PDF). London: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 52–66.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - Clarke, Michael (1992). British External Policy-Making in the 1990s. London: Macmillan for the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
- Dickie, John (1992). Inside the Foreign Office. London: Chapmans.
- Edwards, Ruth Dudley (1994). True Brits: Inside the British Foreign Office. London: BBC Books.
- Feske, Victor H. (2019). The Road To Suez: The British Foreign Office and the Quai D'Orsay, 1951–1957. pp. 167–200. )
- Hall, Ian (2013). "'Building the Global Network?' The Reform of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under New Labour". British Journal of Politics and International Relations. 15 (2): 228–245. S2CID 154455569.
- Kettle, Louise (2020). "The Role of the Policy Planning Staff in British Foreign Policy: Historical Lessons and Contemporary Insight". Diplomacy & Statecraft. 31 (3): 487–508. S2CID 218821102.
- Jenkins, Simon; Sloman, Anne (1985). With Respect, Ambassador: An inquiry into the Foreign Office. London: BBC.
- Martin, Laurence; Garnett, John (1997). British Foreign Policy; Challenges and Choices for the 21st Century. London: Royal Institute for International Affairs/Pinter.
- Mawdsley, Emma (2017). "National interests and the paradox of foreign aid under austerity: Conservative governments and the domestic politics of international development since 2010" (PDF). Geographical Journal. 183 (3): 223–232. .
- Steiner, Zara (2004). "The Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Resistance and adaptation to changing times". Contemporary British History. 18 (3): 13–30. S2CID 153756859.
- Tribe, Keith (2018). "The Colonial Office and British Development Economics, 1940–60". History of Political Economy. 50 (S1): 97–113. .
- Wallace, William, ed. (1975). The Foreign Policy Process in Britain. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs.
External links
Media related to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
- Cockerell, Michael (1998). How to Be Foreign Secretary (Television production). BBC. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
- Cockerell, Michael (2010). The Great Offices of State: Palace of Dreams (Television production). BBC. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019.
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