Guidelines and arrangements of state hospitality at home and abroad

The request was successful.

Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

I would like some information from the FCO and the Protocol Directorate on government hospitality, specifically on hosting meals/dinners, at home and abroad for research purposes.

I would appreciate having the following information:

• Recent official guidance documents/handbooks issued to British diplomats undertaking missions overseas on diplomatic protocol (can be general or specifically related to hospitality)
• Recent official guidance/policies on organising state banquets/meals for foreign dignitaries, both within the UK (e.g. inward state visits) and abroad (at embassies/consulates)
• List of inward state dinners organised as part of State visits and Guests of Her Majesty’s Government from 2010 to 2017. Please include the country and title of the visiting Head of State, the dates of their visits, location of the state dinners, and their overall expenditures (related to the state dinner)
• List of British embassies/consulates with Protocol sections/departments/directorates/officers

Thank you for your time and I look forward to receiving a response.

Yours faithfully,
Mr. L Man

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Dear Mr Man,

 

Thank you for your email to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)
requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Part 2 and 3 of your request are in already in the public domain. The list
of State Visits are published on the British Monarchy website -
[1]https://www.royal.uk/state-visits-2

Since 2015 we have published the cost to the FCO of State Visits and will
continue to do so.   

[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/collection...

However, in order for us to be able to assist you with parts 1 and 4 of
your request and best direct any search please refine part of the scope of
your request. 

As currently drafted your request is too broad and would go over
the statutory limit set under the FOIA and we would be unable to proceed
with it.

 

Would it also be possible for you to refine parts 1 and 4 of your request
and specify a particular country, for the information you are seeking, as
this information is not centrally held?

 

Once we receive your revised request we will consider it and the
appropriate course of action.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI and DPA Team

 

 

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Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Thank you for your swift response and for pointing out where I can find information on Parts 2 and 3.

To clarify my request on Part 1, I would like to obtain information on guidance that the FCO issues to diplomats being posted abroad on the protocols and conduct relating to the entertaining foreign guests in their official capacity.

Examples of documents from the US State Department can be found here:
https://www.state.gov/documents/organiza...
https://www.state.gov/documents/organiza...

Are there equivalent FCO documents similar to those linked above? If such general documents exist, then I would appreciate having a copy. If it is country/post-specific, then I would be interested in documents issued for posts in the US, France, and the People's Republic of China in particular.

With regards to Part 4, I would like organograms of the British embassies in Washington D.C., Paris and Beijing if possible (no need for names of staff heading each section/directorate etc.).

Finally, for Part 3, I wonder if you could clarify what kind of expenses are generally included under 'Entertainment' category that can be found in the link that you have provided here? https://www.gov.uk/government/collection...

Yours sincerely,
Mr. L Man

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Dear Mr Man,

 

Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding

 

With regard to part 1. The FCO does not issue specific guidance, along the
lines of the examples you provided when diplomats are posted abroad
regarding entertaining foreign guests in an official capacity. This is
because FCO Missions should have an entertainment policy that takes
account of local style and sensibilities and is linked to each Mission’s
objectives. As a result we would expect members of staff in each Mission
to be aware of who should and should not be entertained, where would be
appropriate and what the aims of entertaining in an official capacity are.
All expenditure related to entertaining should be justified and provide
value for money.

 

Each post overseas covers a range of topics from Consular, Commercial,
Public Affairs, Corporate roles and would normally all fall under the
Ambassador, then the Deputy Head of Mission (DHM), or the Head of Mission
if a subordinate post, but for security reasons more detailed information
is not available, though you can check each of the posts below to
determine the work they undertake.

[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/world/china

[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/world/france

[3]https://www.gov.uk/government/world/usa

 

 

Finally, for Part 3. There is not a  more detailed breakdown of the
figures than those published online.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

FOI and DPA Team

 

 

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