Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
53rd Report - Cost of maintaining the FCDO’s overseas estate
Public Accounts Committee
HC 884
Published 12 November 2025
Conclusions (3)
7
Conclusion
Deferred
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 …
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.
8
Conclusion
Deferred
FCDO told us it is now in a better position than it was previously to make progress in developing its estate strategy. It considers itself to have better data on its overseas estate than it had before, and has had some time to assess how to manage its new posts. …
Government Response Summary
The government response is entirely unrelated to the FCDO estate strategy, instead detailing actions regarding vaccine availability for animal diseases, including a five-year multi-stakeholder Action Plan to be published in late 2026 and an ongoing assessment of a Bovine TB vaccine application.
9
Conclusion
Deferred
FCDO’s first strategic goal for its estate is for it to be safe, compliant with all relevant health and safety standards, and for it to be as secure as possible.19 The Permanent Under-Secretary told us that his most important duty is to look after the welfare of his staff and …
Government Response Summary
The government response is entirely unrelated to the FCDO estate, instead detailing work on negotiations for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU and plans to examine strategic themes for strengthening long-term resilience to animal disease.