News

The Foreign Office has launched a consultation on a new strategy for the Overseas Territories.

The strategy aims to:
• strengthen the engagement and interaction between the UK and the Territories.
• work with Territories to strengthen good governance arrangements, public financial management and economic planning where this is necessary; and
• improve the quality and range of support available to the Territories.
The consultation, which will run until 31 December 2011, will seek views from people in the Overseas Territories and the UK on implementing the goals of the strategy.

Comments and responses can be made online, through email or by post. These will help inform the strategy as the Government prepares for the publication of a new White Paper in 2012, which will set out in detail this Government’s approach to the Overseas Territories.

Speaking before the launch of the consultation, Minister for the Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham said:
“Since we came to Office in May 2010, this Government has worked hard to re-invigorate the UK’s relationship with the Overseas Territories. This consultation is an important part of that approach as we move toward a new White Paper on the Overseas Territories next year.
There are many people and groups who have an interest in the future of the Overseas Territories and can provide us with insight into how to develop the UK’s relationship with them. I look forward to receiving their ideas.”
The UK Government’s overall vision is for the Overseas Territories to be vibrant and flourishing communities, proudly retaining aspects of their British identity and generating wider opportunities for their people.
You can take part in the consultation by the following means:
• Online, by leaving a public comment on this site under any or all of the questions (comments will be checked against FCO’s moderation policy before publication)
• by private email or by post to the Foreign Office in London
Comments will be accepted until 31 December 2011; the website will remain available for reference until 1 July 2012.

Further information

The Foreign Secretary announced to Parliament on 14 September that the Government had agreed the principles of a new strategy for the Overseas Territories.

More information on our work with the Overseas Territories

Members of Legislative Assembly the Honourable Sharon Halford and Roger Edwards left the Islands today en-route to the annual Party Conferences in the United Kingdom. They will be joined by the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) London Representative Sukey Cameron MBE.

FIG are one of the longest standing exhibitors having attended the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences since 1988; this year FIG will also, as a trial, be exhibiting at the Liberal Democratic Conference having attended International Day in past years.

The days at conference provide an excellent opportunity to meet a large number of delegates ranging from MPs and their constituents, media representatives, diplomatic visitors and fellow exhibitors – some 30,000 people over three weeks.  New contacts are made and former contacts updated on issues affecting the Islands. MLAs also have the opportunity to attend a number of fringe meetings that may be relevant to the Islands.

Sukey Cameron MBE says “It is always interesting to find that a large number of people have connections with the Islands, either having visited themselves or know people who have. We are also pleased with the interest shown in the Islands and for the high level of support we always get.”

Office of the Legislative Assembly

Gilbert House

13 September 2011