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G20 Summit
11 September 2023
Lead MP
Rishi Sunak
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
UkraineEconomyClimateBrexitBusiness & Trade
Other Contributors: 32
At a Glance
Rishi Sunak raised concerns about g20 summit in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Mr Speaker, the Minister sent condolences to Morocco after an earthquake and remembered victims of a terrorist attack in the US. He discussed his three aims at the G20 summit: increasing diplomatic pressure on Russia over Ukraine, demonstrating democratic leadership on global issues like climate change, and strengthening partnerships for UK growth and security. The statement emphasised Russian aggression, provided £3 million to the World Food Programme, and committed £1.6 billion to the Green Climate Fund. It highlighted economic growth in the UK compared to Europe and new trade agreements with several countries, including a strategic partnership with Singapore. The Minister also addressed China's influence and espionage concerns, stressing the importance of upholding democracy and human rights.
David Johnston
Lab
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Question
The MP asked if a £1.6 billion commitment to climate change was part of the current expenditure or future spending commitments, expressing concern about affordability in these economic times.
Minister reply
The Minister clarified that while it is important to balance resources with other priorities, the UK has cut emissions faster than any G7 country and is committed to leading on development assistance. The climate commitment includes £1.6 billion from future spending.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda
Question
The MP questioned whether the Government's focus was misplaced, given that Russian military attacks in Ukraine have been ongoing for months.
Minister reply
The Minister stated that while it is crucial to condemn Russia’s actions, focusing on global cooperation and leadership on climate change, economic growth, and security matters remains vital.
Greg Mulholland
Lib Dem
Leeds North West
Question
The MP inquired about the UK's current membership status of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that the UK has joined this agreement, which is seen as a significant trading bloc.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Question
May I thank the Prime Minister for an advance copy of his statement? The G20 summit in India was a real opportunity to see progress on key global issues, but the joint declaration is disappointing. On Russia's war in Ukraine, the House speaks with one voice: it condemns Moscow and supports NATO allies in helping Ukraine defeat Putin. Regarding the arrest of a researcher in Parliament on suspicion of spying for China, Starmer asks if the Foreign Secretary knew about this incident before visiting China last month and whether he raised it during that trip. He also criticises the lack of UK involvement in the partnership for global infrastructure and investment announced at G20 and questions why Britain is not part of major trade deals such as the one between India and the US-EU-Gulf states agreement.
Minister reply
Sunak confirms that the Foreign Secretary raised issues about China during his recent visit, including the arrest incident. He clarifies that the UK initiated the PGII initiative but does not participate in every project under it. Sunak emphasises the UK's contributions to green climate fund and improving global food security, dismissing Starmer’s criticism as a political point scoring attempt. On trade deals with India, he notes that the government takes time to ensure deals work for British people rather than rushing them like Starmer would have done during Brexit discussions.
Alicia Kearns
Con
Rutland and Stamford
Question
Expresses gratitude to Mr Speaker and parliamentary security services. Prioritises the safety of British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad, referencing Jagtar Singh Johal's case in India where consular access is withheld on diplomatic silence basis. Requests official call for his release as UN has accepted he is arbitrarily detained; asks if he has been unfairly treated or tortured.
Minister reply
Confirms commitment to resolving Mr Johal’s case as soon as possible, providing consular assistance and raising concerns about consular access, judicial process, and mistreatment reports with the Indian Government on multiple occasions.
Martin Docherty
Lab
Question
We have heard a lot of PR and spin today. What part of President Biden’s projects is the UK involved in? When was the Prime Minister first notified about the issue raised with Chinese Premier Li? Will the Prime Minister meet Jagtar Singh Johal’s family to discuss their concerns?
Minister reply
Refers to previous answers on Mr Johal and discusses British investment partnerships, such as £2 billion invested through the British investment partnership approach with India. Also mentions that UK auto manufacturing is receiving record amounts of investment due to the Government's tax, regulatory and incentive regime.
John Redwood
Con
Question
Did Chinese representatives indicate when they might stop increasing carbon dioxide emissions? Does it make sense for the UK to rely on imports of green products from China?
Minister reply
Acknowledges that there is a commitment in the G20 declaration for all members to peak emissions in the next couple of years. Discusses measures being consulted on to address carbon leakage and ensure a level playing field.
Edward Davey
Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Question
Why did the Prime Minister feel justified in signing up to such a weak communiqué on Ukraine, despite criticism from Ukrainian allies?
Minister reply
Defends the G20 statement as containing strong language regarding Russia. Highlights that the US and other Five Eyes partners and G7 allies also signed the statement.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
Would the Prime Minister be willing to discuss securely with the Intelligence and Security Committee aspects of topics discussed at the G20, such as China? Could he reinstate meetings with the Committee?
Minister reply
Will consider the request for reinstating meetings. Welcomes the Committee’s report on China and is considering its recommendations carefully.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
Surely one of the things that should keep the Prime Minister awake at night is Mr Johal’s case.
Minister reply
Consistently raises concerns about Mr Johal’s case with the Indian Government, including concerns about allegations of mistreatment and the right to a fair trial. Provides direct support to Mr Johal’s family.
Tobias Ellwood
Con
Question
Could the Prime Minister expand on the global food security summit? Could an international maritime protection force help escort grain ships out of Odesa?
Minister reply
Works with partners, allies and Ukraine to ensure safe exit of and access to grain from Ukraine. The global food summit will focus on creating new approaches to ending preventable deaths of children, building a climate-resilient food system, anticipating and preventing famine and food security crises, and using science and technology to boost food security.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
Question
Why is the UK not leading the argument for tripling the lending of multilateral development banks? Could the UK use money from the European Investment Bank to boost the balance sheet of the World Bank?
Minister reply
The UK is leading on the case for a bigger World Bank and has had extensive conversations with the president of the World Bank. The UK also leads the way on reforming the international financial system, including pioneering climate-resilient debt clauses.
Question
Welcomed the inclusion of G20 AI principles, asked about further work to ensure safety of AI outpaces capability and for a meaningful principle-based approach.
Minister reply
Emphasised need for global cooperation on AI safety, highlighted UK's leadership in building expertise and leading position in AI research. Mentioned ongoing discussions with partners on regulatory consistency across jurisdictions.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
Welcomed African Union as permanent member of G20, asked about UK strategy towards Africa in terms of its rising population and climate risks.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of engaging with Africa. Mentioned changes to tariff structure for 98% of goods imported from Africa, just energy transition partnerships, and plans to host an Africa investment summit next year.
Question
Asked about examples of how climate finance will be spent to strengthen allies and UK security.
Minister reply
Discussed the importance of multilateral funding in leveraging contributions, highlighted that every pound contributes can attract more capital for global projects.
Question
Asked about discussions on India’s trade with Russia and human rights issues during private meeting with Mr. Modi.
Minister reply
Stated support for democracy and human rights in all engagements, mentioned that it is not for the UK to prescribe solutions or mediate in situations like Kashmir.
Question
Quoted Gandhi on education of women vs men, asked about UK’s assurance to ensure G20 members support girls and women's education.
Minister reply
Praised PM Modi for making women's access to education a central theme at the summit. Highlighted UK’s contribution in helping educate over 8 million girls.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
Asked about explaining the lack of mention of Russia in joint statement to President Zelensky.
Minister reply
Discussed highlighting Russia’s aggression, declassified intelligence on civilian ship attacks and efforts with Ukraine for exporting grain.
Question
Asked about conversations on sanctions against Russia with PM Modi and India's role in refining Russian oil.
Minister reply
Urged all countries to follow UK’s lead in sanctioning Russia, mentioned development of economic deterrence initiative for enforcement.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
Asked why Britain was not a signatory to the partnership for global infrastructure and investment memorandum.
Minister reply
Discussed UK’s participation in projects reducing dependence on China, leadership in developing common debt relief framework.
Desmond Swayne
Con
New Forest West
Question
Inquired if policy of ending grant development aid to India had changed.
Minister reply
Confirmed the policy change from 2015, mentioned shift towards business investments that help reduce carbon emissions and create jobs for British companies.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Question
With so much at stake—the war in Ukraine, increasingly high numbers of people suffering from famine and drought, and human rights issues in places such as Iran or the Xinjiang part of China—is now really the time for the Prime Minister to empty chair the United Nations General Assembly?
Minister reply
I have just been over how our leadership on these matters is unquestioned. We are an active and engaged member at the G20. In just a couple of weeks, I will be at the European Political Community summit as well. Let me gently point out something to the hon. Lady about the UN General Assembly: as far as I can tell from looking back at the records, on the vast majority of occasions under the Labour Government it was not the Labour Prime Minister who attended either.
Question
The leaders’ declaration expresses the optimism about AI that I know the Prime Minister and I share. It talks about the importance of “international governance” and “international co-operation”. How optimistic is he that all the countries at the G20 can sign up to those sorts of principles, just as they signed up to the joint declaration?
Minister reply
There was a good conversation about AI at the G20 summit. I am optimistic that most countries are approaching this in a similar way, recognising the tremendous opportunities for growth, opportunity and transforming developments in healthcare and education in particular, but cognisant of the challenges and risks that AI poses, and keen to work together to find ways to resolve those.
Question
Many of us were very impressed by the close relationship that the Prime Minister obviously has with Prime Minister Modi. When he had private time with Prime Minister Modi, did he ask him, first, why he has not condemned Russia for the invasion of Ukraine? Secondly, did he ask what Modi is doing to stop all the persecution of Muslims and Christians, with their mosques and churches being burnt, and with people being killed and persecuted?
Minister reply
The Prime Minister and I discussed a range of issues. As I have said, we talk about human rights and defending democracy in all our international engagement, because those are values that we believe in very dearly.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Question
Of course, migration is best dealt with by international co-operation, but it also depends on decisive action at home. One thousand five hundred Indians enter this country legally every week. Last year 600 came across illegally in boats, and this year there have been 600 in just the first three months. The Prime Minister told me personally that he would lead by example by having illegal migrants based at Catterick in his constituency. This afternoon, the Ministry of Defence was unable to give me any date on when they are going to come. Meanwhile, my council has issued a stop notice against the slash-and-burn tactics of the Home Office at RAF Scampton. The Prime Minister is the head of the Government. Will he instruct Home Office Ministers to work proactively with West Lindsey District Council to ensure that we get a compromise, do our bit and take illegal migrants to a secure location, and that we do not rely on decaying bases but take action that will work in the future?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend for his constructive engagement. I know that he will continue to represent his community strongly and has engaged with Home Office Ministers on the particular issues in his constituency. More broadly, we continue to strengthen our co-operation with international partners to combat illegal migration—something I discussed with many of my counterparts at the G20, as I will continue to do through further engagement this autumn—and look to find ways to formalise that co-operation and improve returns agreements.
Richard Foord
Lib Dem
Honiton and Sidmouth
Question
It is disappointing that the this year’s statement from the G20 does not name the perpetrator of aggression in Ukraine. What kind of statement is it where G20 leaders feel the need to spin the interpretation of it after the event? Does the Prime Minister agree with Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who said yesterday that if it were up to him, the language on the war would have been stronger?
Minister reply
It goes without saying that, because this is not the G7 or, indeed, the G1, it is not for us just to take the language that we ourselves would like. Our position on Ukraine is crystal clear for all to see, but the G20 is a collection of a large group of countries that do not all share the same perspective on global affairs or, indeed, the same values.
Question
I, too, associate myself with the Prime Minister’s words about Morocco and the people of Morocco, and I pay tribute to Truro-based ShelterBox, which as ever has a team standing ready for deployment at the point that the Moroccan Government need it. Will the Prime Minister tell the House what conversations he has had with his G20 partners about critical mineral extraction, not only to boost local production from Cornwall—lithium, obviously—but to ensure that we have supply chains that cut out rogue partners?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point about the need to improve our economic resilience and security, which is why that is an increasing feature of the partnerships and agreements that we strike around the world.
Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement. He rightly highlighted the importance of international trade and the progress that he has made, including new partnerships joined. Will he perhaps give a bit more detail on the progress made on securing a UK-India deal?
Minister reply
We do make, and have made, substantial progress, but as I said, there is hard work left to do and that is why we will we keep at it. But it is right that we do not put arbitrary deadlines on these trade deals and that we keep going until they work for the British people, British companies and the British Government.
Question
I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his leadership in securing the outcomes of the summit. Further to his response to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Andrew Jones), in view of the scale of the population and the speed of growth in India, the areas of joint expertise and the co-operation that has taken place to date, as well as the deep-rooted ties the UK has with India, which spread across the whole of the United Kingdom, can my right hon. Friend assure me that as he progresses the negotiations on the trade deal, he will ensure that it contains a chapter or elements that allow for small businesses and medium-sized enterprises across the UK and beyond to trade effectively with India?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. Unquestionably, India is if not the most, then one of the most significant and consequential countries for global affairs over the coming years and decades.
Question
Members will know that the next G20 summit will be held in Rio in November 2024. I note with interest that Brazil has already placed on the agenda something called 'reform of the global governance institutions'. Does the Prime Minister agree that reform of the UN Security Council should be considered with the best interests of the UK at heart, so that the UN Security Council remains a viable framework for global security, and that Britain must never put Britain’s seat at the table on the table?
Minister reply
We have spoken in the past about support for additional members of the UN Security Council, including in India, and it is something we continue to do. As my hon. Friend has seen, at this G20 summit we warmly supported and welcomed the inclusion of the African Union in the G20.
Question
I was very proud earlier this month to celebrate Ukraine Independence Day with Huddersfield’s vibrant Ukrainian community. I heard at first hand how proud they are of the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine. With Brazil taking over the presidency of the G20, will the Prime Minister continue to work with our international allies and partners to increase and build on our wonderful support for Ukraine, and to build unity in condemning Putin’s barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine?
Minister reply
I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend, and pay tribute to him and his constituents for all they are doing to support Ukraine and Ukrainian families. UK support for Ukraine now amounts to over £9 billion, and 29 different states have now signed up to the declaration we helped to initiate to provide long-term security support to Ukraine.
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer
Shadow Comment
Mr Starmer thanked the Prime Minister for his statement and expressed sympathy for Morocco. He criticised the G20 summit declaration as weak in condemning Russia's war against Ukraine, echoing the House’s stance on supporting Ukraine. He questioned whether the Foreign Secretary was aware of a researcher's arrest before visiting China and requested details on how to tackle Chinese security infiltration. Mr Starmer also asked why Britain had not signed a new global infrastructure partnership or joined major trade blocs' initiatives for economic security. Furthermore, he inquired about delays in finalising the UK-India trade deal promised by the Government’s manifesto.
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