Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
2nd Report - The write to protect: Britain’s pen on the world stage
Foreign Affairs Committee
HC 930
Published 21 September 2025
Recommendations
12
Deferred
Ensure retention of high-calibre staff at UK Missions to the United Nations.
Recommendation
The Government must ensure the retention of the high-calibre staff at the UK Missions to the United Nations and it should outline a clear strategy detailing how it plans to retain these staff. When the Government is clear on the …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses entirely on its ongoing commitment to the Colombia Peace Agreement, outlining its diplomatic engagement, support for UN Verification Mission renewals, and financial contributions to the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund. It does not address the recommendation on staff retention or providing an FCDO restructuring overview.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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15
Deferred
Explain how the FCDO's reduced budget maintains its leading multilateral actor role.
Recommendation
The Government should also, in its response, outline how the FCDO’s reduced operating budget will allow it to continue being a leading multilateral actor and fulfil the Government’s responsibility to push through efficiencies identified throughout the ongoing United Nations 80 …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response details its past and ongoing actions as UN Security Council penholder on Myanmar. It acknowledges the need for regular reporting but states there is insufficient support for it, and does not address how the FCDO's reduced operating budget will enable continued multilateral leadership or UN80 efficiencies.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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16
Deferred
Detail interim private finance investments to plug ODA gap and safeguard UK conflict expertise.
Recommendation
It should also detail what interim investments it has made for private finance to plug the Official Development Assistance gap. This includes investment in civilian-led conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding. UK expertise, much of it currently concentrated in the Migration …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses its agreement with UN peacekeeping reform and its efforts within the UN80 process to advocate for efficiencies and a whole-of-UN approach to peacekeeping. It does not detail investments in private finance for ODA, safeguarding UK expertise, sharing expertise with host countries, or working with European allies on conflict prevention.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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18
Deferred
Prioritise co-penholding with Elected UN Security Council Members for country and thematic files.
Recommendation
The Government should prioritise co-penholding with at least one Elected Member to the United Nations Security Council per country and thematic file, where appropriate, and where Elected Members are willing and able to contribute meaningfully. This would also provide a …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses the challenges of securing UN funding for AU Peace Support Operations in Somalia (AUSSOM) and highlights the UK's £16.5 million commitment to AUSSOM and efforts to lobby other international partners for financial pledges. It does not address the recommendation to prioritise co-penholding with Elected Members of the UN Security Council.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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Conclusions (3)
13
Conclusion
Deferred
With a reduced Official Development Assistance budget and a smaller budget allocation for conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts, the UK is less visible on the global stage and in key conflict zones. This opens up the space to our adversaries and competitors to make significant inroads, particularly China, Iran and …
Government Response Summary
The government's response details its ongoing engagement and support for UN-led efforts to achieve a lasting settlement in Cyprus, highlighting its role as a Guarantor Power and its leadership in renewing the UNFICYP mandate. It does not address the committee's conclusion about reduced ODA budgets and their impact on UK visibility or potential for adversaries to gain influence.
14
Conclusion
Deferred
For the UK to continue being a lead actor within the United Nations Security Council, and a leading global actor in the prevention and resolution of conflict, it is critical that the Government sets out a pathway and 47 timeline as to how it will return to spending 0.5%, and …
Government Response Summary
The government's response details its past and ongoing efforts within the UN Security Council regarding Libya, leading sanctions, and renewing mandates. It does not address the recommendation to set out a timeline for returning to 0.7% GNI on ODA or a protected budget for conflict prevention.
20
Conclusion
Deferred
We recognise that the UK’s Mission to the United Nations is operating in an increasingly fraught and challenging geopolitical environment, but that should not preclude the UK from raising and debating files such as Myanmar and Sudan at the United Nations Security Council. (Conclusion, Paragraph 78)
Government Response Summary
The government's response details its extensive work as penholder on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, including efforts to implement it across UNSC work, secure language on women's rights in mandates, and ensure women's strategic involvement in peace and security matters. It does not directly address the committee's point about raising and debating specific files like Myanmar and Sudan.