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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Electronic Messaging

Asked by Sarah PochinReform UKForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 22 June 2026UIN 9962

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance her Department provides to Ministers, special advisers and officials on conducting government business, including on security vetting and senior diplomatic appointments, via WhatsApp and other private messaging platforms.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Cabinet Office guidance on the use of non-corporate communication channels, published under the previous government, on 30 March 2023: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business.

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