§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedure exists for documenting gifts received from foreign powers; and what becomes of them.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office follows well-established and recognised procedures, applying to both Ministers and officials, for dealing with the receipt of gifts.
These are that either:
- (i) the gift may be placed on the inventory of the British mission concerned or the Foreign Commonwealth Office as appropriate; or
- (ii) it may be given to another appropriate institution, eg a museum, or
- (iii) the direct recipient may either keep or buy the gift depending on its value; or
- (iv) it may be disposed of by public auction.
In all cases, the receipt and eventual disposal of the gift is recorded centrally within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.