To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any British Overseas Territories contribute to the United Kingdom Exchequer in return for services provided through overseas representation and in international negotiations; and, if so, how much each Territory contributes per annum. [HL4716]

The British Overseas Territories do not contribute to the United Kingdom Exchequer in return for services provided through overseas representation and in international negotiations. Certain Territory Governments meet the salary, accommodation and other expenses of governors and some of their staff. Visa and consular/passport services provided by the United Kingdom Government on behalf of the Overseas Territories are on a full cost recovery basis direct from the Overseas Territory citizens who use these services. No contribution is required from Overseas Territory Governments.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord West of Spithead on 23 June (Official Report, House of Lords, col. GC 422), what is the ambit of the general entrustment of authority to conduct external relations to British Overseas Territories. [HL4766]

General entrustments have no pre-set ambit. Their extent is determined by what is agreed to by the Government, taking into account the needs of the territory to which it is granted.

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord West of Spithead on 23 June (Official Report, House of Lords, col. GC 422), whether the general entrustment of authority to British Overseas Territories to conduct external relations or individual entrustments to specific territories have been reported to Parliament or published. [HL4767]

There is no legal requirement to report general or individual entrustments to Parliament or to publish them as Command Papers, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to keeping Parliament fully informed about the Overseas Territories.