1 Introduction
1. This short Report on the FCO's performance and
finances in 2013-14 summarises our views on the future direction
of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Although it is based
on the FCO's Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14, it draws
more widely on evidence we have received since the start of this
Parliament. We assess the impact of the 2010 Spending Review and
the implications for the Department of any further cuts that might
be imposed under the new Government after the May 2015 General
Election. We also look at two aspects of the FCO which have received
little scrutiny from us so far: the FCO's trade and economic diplomacy,
and its efforts to improve the diversity of its workforce.
2. Our terms of reference were announced on 21 July
2014, as follows:
· The FCO's diversity policies, including
the steps it has taken to increase the number of women in senior
roles, and other diversity targets;
· The establishment of the Diplomatic Academy;
· The interface between the FCO and the
European External Action Service overseas;
· Co-operation between the FCO and other
Government departments and publicly funded bodies, including the
arrangements for use of FCO premises and services overseas, and
pooling of effort and funding in pursuit of policy aims;
· The FCO's understanding and reporting
of the costs of its activities;
· The changing role of the FCO and its staff
in promoting investment and trade; and
· Corporate sponsorship of FCO activities.[1]
3. Written evidence to the inquiry is published on
the Committee's webpages on the Parliamentary website.[2]
We took oral evidence from the Permanent Under-Secretary at the
FCO, Sir Simon Fraser, and other key FCO officials; and we took
evidence from the Chair, Chief Executive and former Chief Executive
of the British Council. Our Report, however, relates exclusively
to the FCO. We are grateful to all those who have taken part in
the inquiry.
4.
1 FCO Performance and Finance 2013-14: Terms of Reference,
21 July 2014 Back
2
FCO Performance and Finance 2013-14: written evidence Back
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