Foreign and Commonwealth Office

:The German foreign ministry is also formally known as the Foreign Office.

History of the department

The department's origins

The FCO was formed in 1968 out of the merger of the short-lived Commonwealth Office and the Foreign Office, the Commonwealth Office having been formed only in 1966 by the merger of the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Colonial Office. The Commonwealth Relations Office had been formed by the merger of the Dominions Office and the India Office in 1947, with the Dominions Office having been split from the Colonial Office in 1925.

Related Topics:
1968 - Commonwealth Office - Foreign Office - 1966 - Commonwealth Relations Office - Colonial Office - Dominions Office - India Office - 1947 - 1925

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The Foreign Office was formed in March 1782 by combining the Southern and Northern Departments, each of which covered both foreign and domestic affairs in their respective geographical parts of the Kingdom. The two departments' foreign affairs responsibilities became the Foreign Office, whilst their domestic affairs responsibilities were assigned to the Home Office.

Related Topics:
1782 - Southern - Northern - Home Office

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Recent developments

On December 2, 2003, the FCO announced eight strategic priorities for the next five to ten years, in its first strategy document:

Related Topics:
December 2 - 2003

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• A world safer from global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction
• Protection of the UK from illegal immigration, drug trafficking and other international crime.
• An international system based on the rule of law, which is better able to resolve disputes and prevent conflicts.
• An effective EU in a secure neighbourhood.
• Promotion of UK economic interests in an open and expanding global economy.
• Sustainable development, underpinned by democracy, good governance and human rights.
• Security of UK and global energy supplies.
• Security and good governance of the British Overseas Territories.

In August 2005 a report by management consultant group Collinson Grant which criticised the management structure of the department was made public bty Andrew Mackinlay. The report noted that:

Related Topics:
August 2005 - Management - Consultant - Collinson Grant - Andrew Mackinlay

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• The Foreign Office could be "slow to act".
• Delegation is lacking within the management structure.
• Accountability was poor.
• 1200 jobs could be lost.
• At least £48 million could be saved annually.

The Foreign Office commissioned the report to highlight areas which would help it achieve its pledge to reduce spending by £87 million pounds over three years. In response to the report being made public, the Foreign Office stated it had already implemented the report's recommendations. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4745467.stm

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