Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

ASEAN Countries: UK Relations

Tuesday 24 November 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister met with ASEAN Secretary-General and all ASEAN ambassadors in London recently.
  • Ban on Filipino nurses leaving the Philippines has been lifted, allowing NHS to recruit them.
  • UK emphasizes the importance of the Indo-Pacific region for defending democracies and respecting individual rights.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Antony Higginbotham
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP wants to highlight the importance of strengthening UK ties with ASEAN countries beyond just security and defence.

Question

What diplomatic steps are being taken to strengthen UK relations with ASEAN countries?

Answer from Nigel Adams

We are strengthening our relations with the 10 ASEAN nations. Last month, I met the ASEAN Secretary-General and all ASEAN ambassadors in London. The Foreign Secretary visited Vietnam in September and met ASEAN Foreign Ministers. Last week, I was in the Philippines and met Secretary of Foreign Affairs Locsin.

Answered
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Q2 Antony Higginbotham
Care & Healthcare Workers NHS Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP raises the issue of Filipino nurses in the UK and seeks details on conversations with Manila to address this.

Question

I welcome the Minister's meeting in the Philippines. He knows that our relationship with the Philippines is not just on security and defence, but extends to the 30,000 healthcare workers in this country who came from the Philippines. May I press him on the conversations he has had with the Government in Manila about those 30,000 workers and how we can strengthen the healthcare relationship?

Answer from Nigel Adams

While in Manila last week, I met Cabinet Secretaries including Health Secretary and Foreign Minister. We discussed the ban on Filipino nurses leaving the country, which has been lifted by President allowing NHS to recruit these highly skilled workers.

Answered
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Q3 Thomas Tugendhat Con Tonbridge
Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP supports the shift towards the Asia-Pacific region as part of the integrated review.

Question

I very much welcome my hon. Friend's efforts with ASEAN and his emphasis on the Indo-Pacific. He will no doubt have seen the fantastic Policy Exchange report by my hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho). Does he agree that this tilt towards the Asia-Pacific is fundamental to defending democracies in the region, to ensuring British interests are valued and respecting individual rights of countries?

Answer from Nigel Adams

I thank the Chairman for his question. Our tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region is fundamental to defending democracies, ensuring British interests are valued and respecting individual rights of countries. We raise issues around South China Sea regularly with China, making our legal position clear.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on how the tilt will be implemented or its strategic implications were not provided.

How: While The Answer Acknowledges The Importance Of The Indo-Pacific Tilt, It Does Not Provide Concrete Commitments Or Actions Beyond General Principles.

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