Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Deferred
FCDO estate strategy development remains complex, balancing central oversight with local flexibility and diverse properties.
Conclusion
In 2010 the Public Accounts Committee concluded that the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) estate strategy “provided a high-level description of the estate’s strategic aims but lacked detail on its estate requirements, whether the estate met these requirements, and how any gaps would be addressed.” At the time, FCO told the Committee the FCO board was reviewing a new draft estate strategy, based on NAO recommendations.15 FCDO told us that it has tried hard to develop an estate strategy, but it is complicated to develop a model that balances central ownership with local flexibility across a variety of different locations. FCDO highlighted the different types of property in its estate portfolio, which includes churches, schools, cemeteries and a hospital. FCDO overseas posts’ estates vary considerably in size, from large compounds, such as in New Delhi, to a small, shared office space.16
Government Response Summary
The government response is entirely unrelated to the FCDO estate strategy, instead detailing actions regarding "Britain's illegal meat crisis" and biosecurity at the border, including potential funding increases for Dover Port Health Authority and a new methodology for estimating imports by early 2026.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. government response to the recent EFRA Select Committee report ‘Britain’s illegal meat crisis’. Biosecurity at the border: Britain's illegal meat crisis: Government Response The department has noted calls to do more to educate travellers about the consequences of bringing illegal food products into the United Kingdom. In recent months, it has worked with travel operators and other government departments to step up communications informing travellers of the restrictions on personal imports of food products, including via GOV.UK, posters and social media channels. This includes the reasons for the restrictions and the consequences of non-compliance. The department’s communications team conducts regular surveys to assess awareness of its public communications. The department is focussing on developing its relationship with Dover Port Health Authority and establishing a revised strategic approach to the issue of illegal meat imports via the Short Straits. As part of this, the department will draw on the expertise of the operational staff at Dover to better understand the seizure data. The department is now actively considering increases to the funding for Dover Port Health Authority to improve operational coverage to tackle illegal meat imports. Funding decisions will take account of preventing the costs of major disease outbreaks. Border Force is funded by the Home Office. APHA sought views and opinions from relevant experts in 2025, to improve estimates of illegal meat imports. It aims to publish details of the new methodology in early 2026 with data analysis to follow at the end of 2026.