Written Question·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·UIN 42421

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Legal Opinion

Tabled: 31 March 2025
Answered: 8 April 2025
Named Day

Question

Mr Mark Francois

ConservativeRayleigh and Wickford

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) Philippe Sands and (b) Dapo Akande have provided external legal advice to his Department since 4 July 2024.

Answer

Mr Hamish Falconer
It is not normal practice to comment on the provision of external legal advice. However, in this case we can confirm that neither Philippe Sands KC nor Professor Dapo Akande have provided external legal advice to the FCDO since 4 July 2024.