regularly with OT Government on Ministerial Council politicians. A process of the UK/OT provide the most continuous dialogue is relationship. effective options for vital to resolve issues communication. promptly. Assurance that Clear guidance To be sure that our the Programme messaging from the FCO Director projects are realistic is correctly Centre to Posts. and OTD staff and give sustainable targeted and Better use of the outcomes. To be able to adequately FCO.Gov and social gain maximum impact resourced/ media platforms from good news stories. managed. being developed. Full and informative responses to PQs. There is keen Comprehensive interest from briefing for Ministers MPs and To assure MPs that all and officials when parliamentary UK OTSPF resource is appearing before the committees in all Parliamentarians managed well and FAC and OT matters. delivers against agreed Groups. We will Concern on how targets. continue to UK resources are encourage direct allocated to the interaction between OTs. Westminster and OT politicians. Overall Primarily this will Possible concern reduction in fall to Governors in Territory that FCO Assurance that this is resources the though Governments funding not case and that we available FCO Minister and populations. reductions reflect aim to target resources across the regularly writes out a drop in as precisely as we can. FCO. Not to OT leaders when priority. being planning the annual singled out. summit. 6. OTHER ISSUES/INFORMATION It is important to distinguish the difference between the OTSPF and the FCO’s other SPFs. This programme is aimed at supporting the UK’s obligations towards its Territories. So much of what it does is non-discretionary without it some of the unpopulated and sparsely – populated Territories have few alternative support mechanisms. This Government’s political commitment to the Territories is long term and will remain until such time as a Territory wishes to remain British. Each Territory’s constitutional relationship with the UK is different which means that with two or three exceptions, our funding is targeting different obligations. It is also important to note that the United Kingdom Government is ultimately liable for the Territories should a natural, economic or other catastrophe occur - HMG carries the risk. – Much of the OTSPF is about reducing the risk from the contingent liability and the immediate benefit of some project s will not always be obvious.
Government on the UK/OT relationship. regularly with OT politicians. A process of continuous dialogue is vital to resolve issues promptly. Ministerial Council provide the most effective options for communication. FCO Director and OTD staff Assurance that the Programme is correctly targeted and adequately resourced/ managed. To be sure that our projects are realistic and give sustainable outcomes. To be able to gain maximum impact from good news stories. Clear guidance messaging from the Centre to Posts. Better use of the FCO.Gov and social media platforms being developed. UK Parliamentarians There is keen interest from MPs and parliamentary committees in all OT matters. Concern on how UK resources are allocated to the OTs. To assure MPs that all OTSPF resource is managed well and delivers against agreed targets. Full and informative responses to PQs. Comprehensive briefing for Ministers and officials when appearing before the FAC and Groups. We will continue to encourage direct interaction between Westminster and OT politicians. Territory Governments and populations. Possible concern that FCO funding reductions reflect a drop in priority. Assurance that this is not case and that we aim to target resources as precisely as we can. Overall reduction in resources available across the FCO. Not being singled out. Primarily this will fall to Governors in the though FCO Minister regularly writes out to OT leaders when planning the annual summit. 6. OTHER ISSUES/INFORMATION It is important to distinguish the difference between the OTSPF and the FCO’s other SPFs. This programme is aimed at supporting the UK’s obligations towards its Territories. So much of what it does is non-discretionary – without it some of the unpopulated and sparsely populated Territories have few alternative support mechanisms. This Government’s political commitment to the Territories is long term and will remain until such time as a Territory wishes to remain British. Each Territory’s constitutional relationship with the UK is different which means that with two or three exceptions, our funding is targeting different obligations. It is also important to note that the United Kingdom Government is ultimately liable for the Territories – should a natural, economic or other catastrophe occur - HMG carries the risk. Much of the OTSPF is about reducing the risk from the contingent liability and the immediate benefit of some project s will not always be obvious.
OT_Programme_Strategy_2015-16.docx