Hardship allowance is paid to compensate His Majesty's Government (HMG) staff and their families for the additional costs of maintaining quality of life at hardship Posts and to reflect the wider challenges faced in locations globally when compared to living and working in the UK.

Each Post is assigned an individual hardship score through an annual review process. Allowance rates are determined by the number of points above the qualifying threshold.

Hardship scores are based on a combination of two independent scores, which are underpinned by comprehensive and robust reporting and analysis.

Employment Conditions Abroad (ECA)'s location ranking scoring system is used to make up the majority of the total hardship points for each location. ECA generates the scores using data collected from expatriates and independent sources, assessing factors across a number of categories, including Natural Phenomenon, Air Pollution, Language, Culture, Goods and Services, External Isolation, News and Media, Recreation, Housing, Utilities Education, Personal Security and Socio-Political Tensions.

ECA scores are combined with an additional Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) security score, which reflects the additional security risks faced by FCDO/HMG staff, over and above private sector employees, which mostly relates to terrorism and hostile intelligence threats.

The Department for Transport (DfT) undertakes essential international work each year, including aviation and maritime security operations, and direct engagement with other countries and international bodies. While a significant proportion of DfT’s international activity is conducted remotely, in person visits are also necessary to deliver effective engagement and technical assistance, particularly in an operational environment. The visits to the Maldives were programmed to support DfT’s ongoing international activity.

While a significant proportion of DfT’s international aviation security activity is conducted remotely, certain elements of technical engagement require presence on the ground, particularly where activity is focused on operational environments such as airports.

All four visits were approved by a Deputy Director (Senior Civil Servant) in DfT’s Transport Security Division in line with departmental policy.

• January 2025 – Maritime security engagement involved three officials – two at the Senior Executive Officers (SEO) grade and a Higher Executive Officer (HEO). A port security survey was conducted, and a capacity development workshop was delivered. No Ministers or Senior Officials attended. Total cost: £8,830.57.

• January/February 2025 – This visit involved three officials at the SEO grade to conduct an airport security assessment. No Ministers or Senior Officials attended. Total Cost: £7,426.97.

• May 2025 – This visit involved three officials – two SEOs and an Executive Officer (EO) to undertake a technical senior meeting and to verify corrective actions from the airport security assessment. No Ministers or Senior Officials attended. Total Cost: £3260.35.

• August 2025 – This visit involved One official at SEO and two external training providers to deliver capability development training. No Ministers or Senior Officials attended. Total Cost: £15089.39.

• November 2025 – This visit involved two officials at SEO grade to conduct an airport security assessment. No Ministers or Senior Officials attended. One official’s flight was cancelled for a refund. Total Cost: £6243.94.

As part of the planning process, consideration was given to whether the engagement could be conducted remotely or combined with other official travel. While some preparatory and follow‑up activity was undertaken virtually, aspects of the engagement required on‑site delivery at the airport and therefore could not be fully conducted remotely.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

The Deputy Prime Minister has not held discussions with the President of the Maldives since 1 January 2026.

The safety of British nationals remains the Government's top priority. I refer the Hon Member to the statement I gave to the House on 5 March, and the answers provided to questions raised in response. Assisted departures have now taken place from both Oman and Dubai. We will provide further updates on a regular basis, including details of our ongoing evacuation flights, as well as our efforts to secure an end to Iran's attacks on countries in the region, and the full resumption of normal commercial flights.

The safety of British nationals remains the Government's top priority. I refer the Hon Member to the statement I gave to the House on 5 March, and the answers provided to questions raised in response. Assisted departures have now taken place from both Oman and Dubai. We will provide further updates on a regular basis, including details of our ongoing evacuation flights, as well as our efforts to secure an end to Iran's attacks on countries in the region, and the full resumption of normal commercial flights.

Negotiations with the Republic of Korea on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have concluded and both sides are preparing for signature later this year. FTA negotiations continue with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Switzerland, Turkey and Greenland. Discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) also continue.

In addition, the UK is engaged in Costa Rica and Uruguay's Accession Working Groups, as part of their accession process to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I gave on 27 November 2025 to questions UIN HL12107, UIN HL12108 and UIN HL12109.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I gave on 27 November 2025 to questions UIN HL12107, UIN HL12108 and UIN HL12109.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers I gave on 27 November 2025 to questions UIN HL12107, UIN HL12108 and UIN HL12109.

The Agreement between the UK and Mauritius secures the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The Agreement was tested at the highest levels of the United States' security establishment, across multiple agencies, and it has been backed by our key allies and international partners, including the US and all our Five Eyes partners. Talks are ongoing to update the UK-US Exchange of Letters on the operation of the Diego Garcia Base. There are no agreements with the Maldives that would impact the operation of the base.

The previous Government, of which the noble lord was a member, launched a public consultation into a potential UK/Maldives FTA in 2023. The Department for Business and Trade has subsequently evaluated its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme and decided not to progress a UK-Maldives FTA at this time. It would be inappropriate to speculate on what might or might not be included in an FTA which we are not pursuing.

The previous Government, of which the noble lord was a member, launched a public consultation into a potential UK/Maldives FTA in 2023. The Department for Business and Trade has subsequently evaluated its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme and decided not to progress a UK-Maldives FTA at this time. It would be inappropriate to speculate on what might or might not be included in an FTA which we are not pursuing.

The previous Government, of which the noble lord was a member, launched a public consultation into a potential UK/Maldives FTA in 2023. The Department for Business and Trade has subsequently evaluated its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) programme and decided not to progress a UK-Maldives FTA at this time. It would be inappropriate to speculate on what might or might not be included in an FTA which we are not pursuing.

The issue of British Indian Ocean Territory sovereignty featured in the Foreign Secretary's meeting with the Maldives Foreign Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting on 25 October 2024 and in the Minister for the Indo-Pacific meeting with the Maldives Foreign Minister on 14 October 2024. Our High Commissioner in Male also briefed the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Treaty when it was signed on 22 May 2025.

As we outlined in our joint statement of 3 October 2024, following two years of negotiation with the intention of resolving all outstanding issues between the UK and Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago, the UK and Mauritius reached political agreement which is subject to the finalisation in a treaty and connected legal instruments. The agreement will be supported by an enhanced partnership between the UK and Mauritius under which the UK will support Mauritius' ambitions to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that protects the globally significant ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago. The UK was not a party to the 2021 International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea case between Mauritius and Maldives.

The negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Islands were between the UK and Mauritius, following a long-standing dispute. They were bilateral negotiations between the two countries: no other states were involved. The Maldives are a valued partner and we are in regular contact with them about a range of issues.

The Foreign Secretary met Maldives Foreign Minister Khaleel at the Commonwealth Heads of Government on 25 October. They discussed a range of issues, including matters relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Minister West also spoke with Foreign Minister Khaleel virtually on 14 October and met with the Maldivian High Commissioner on 30 September.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is the lead Department for the international and community engagements in regards to the sovereignty negotiations. The Foreign Secretary met Maldives Foreign Minister Khaleel at the Commonwealth Heads of Government on 25 October. They discussed a range of issues, including matters relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Minister West also spoke with Foreign Minister Khaleel virtually on 14 October and met with the Maldivian High Commissioner on 30 September.