Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 6 July 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 July 2021. It was answered by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 July 2021 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Spain: Democracy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with their counterparts in the Catalonian government on the potential effect on democracy in Spain of the claim by the Spanish Court of Auditors for €5.4 million from Catalan government officials for the work that they have done abroad.

Answer: UK Government ministers and officials discuss a range of issues with their Spanish counterparts. Our Consulate General in Barcelona maintains contact with regional authorities there on matters such as trade, investment and tourism. UK Government officials regularly meet with representatives of the Catalan government to discuss matters of mutual interest that are within their competence as an autonomous community of Spain. We have been clear on the issue of Catalonia. The UK continues to support the upholding of the Spanish Constitution and the rule of law. This issue is a matter for Spain and the Spanish courts.

Secondary information