Written question asked by Viscount Trenchard (Conservative) on Wednesday, 25 May 2022, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 10 June 2022. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Friday, 10 June 2022 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Tokyo: Embassies

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sale of part of the British Embassy in Tokyo during the 150th anniversary year of the visit to the UK of the Iwakura Mission.

Answer: The FCDO has completed the sale of an under-used part of our Tokyo compound to Mitsubishi Estates, while retaining the Chancery building and its historic frontage. In line with our ambitions for the Indo-Pacific tilt, this sale gives us the opportunity to modernise and upgrade our Tokyo embassy to ensure it is truly representative of the best of Britain, including through sustainable and inclusive design, whilst also preserving its heritage buildings. The sale has maximised value for money for the British taxpayer, funding much-needed investment not just in Tokyo but also elsewhere in our global estate. The Japanese Government has been kept informed of our plans.

Secondary information