Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon corrected a written answer on Diplomatic Service

29 September 2023 · Lords written answer · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Non-affiliated, Life peer) asked written question HL10183 on 14 September 2023. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon answered on 29 September 2023 for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon corrected the answer on 29 September 2023. The figure 160 in the original became 171 in the correction, higher by 11. Altogether 137 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask His Majesty's Government how many countries have diplomatic representation in the UK.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
The UK has diplomatic representation present in 160 countries recognised by the UK Government. This number periodically changes for political and operational reasons. It excludes countries in which we have closed or temporarily suspended a Post in country, which may operate elsewhere. The UK also has representation present in 15 territories, which includes 12 UK Overseas Territories. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ~~(FCDO)~~ publishes ~~a full list~~ of ~~locations~~ in ~~which~~ the UK ~~has a diplomatic presence~~ on GOV.UK at ~~www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-foreign-office-posts.~~ This ~~list is regularly updated.~~	The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes details of foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk. This page includes the London Diplomatic List (LDL), which contains details of all embassies and high commissions, as well as the names of heads of mission and other diplomatic agents appointed in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The LDL lists 171 diplomatic missions with their permanent seat in the UK; and 17 non-resident diplomatic missions.

Original

Corrected

The UK has diplomatic representation present in 160 countries recognised by the UK Government. This number periodically changes for political and operational reasons. It excludes countries in which we have closed or temporarily suspended a Post in country, which may operate elsewhere. The UK also has representation present in 15 territories, which includes 12 UK Overseas Territories.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ~~(FCDO)~~ publishes ~~a full list~~ of ~~locations~~ in ~~which~~ the UK ~~has a diplomatic presence~~ on GOV.UK at ~~www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-foreign-office-posts.~~ This ~~list is regularly updated.~~

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes details of foreign embassies, high commissions and consulates in the UK on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk.
This page includes the London Diplomatic List (LDL), which contains details of all embassies and high commissions, as well as the names of heads of mission and other diplomatic agents appointed in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The LDL lists 171 diplomatic missions with their permanent seat in the UK; and 17 non-resident diplomatic missions.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/1660899?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
SHA-256	`7318b3c3b5b6f9bacc6892545ef905068020ccf6cffd497ef1ea661461bed222`