Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

India: Economic and Security Relationship

Tuesday 8 March 2022 · 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 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial steps to strengthen UK's economic and security relationship with India were committed to through a new comprehensive strategic partnership.
  • British International Investment is seen as crucial in bolstering economic ties with India and promoting shared entrepreneurial spirit.
  • Foreign Secretary emphasized the importance of strengthening economic and defense relations with India despite concerns over detention of UK nationals.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Defence Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The UK aims to strengthen its economic and security ties with India, a significant global player. In May last year, the UK and India committed to enhancing their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Question

What diplomatic steps have been taken to strengthen the UK's economic and security relationship with India?

Answer from Vicky Ford

India is the world's sixth largest economy and an important partner for the UK. In May last year, the UK and India committed to strengthening our economic and security relationship through a new comprehensive strategic partnership. Our trade with, and investment in, India is set to grow further, and we continue to work together on security and defence.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific diplomatic steps not detailed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The UK's development finance organisation, British International Investment, plays a key role in enhancing economic relations with India. The Foreign Secretary recently emphasized the need to strengthen economic and defence ties.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that the UK's development finance organisation, British International Investment, has a critical role to play in strengthening our economic ties with India and promoting the entrepreneurial spirit that our two countries share?

Answer from Vicky Ford

I completely agree about the importance of British International Investment across the world. I point to the firm statement that the Foreign Secretary gave to the Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday, in which she emphasised the need to strengthen our economic and defence relationship with India in order to pull it away from the orbit of authoritarian regimes such as Russia.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific role of British International Investment not detailed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Martin Docherty SNP
Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

India has been arbitrarily detaining UK nationals such as Jagtar Singh Johal for over four years, raising concerns about democratic rights. The questioner seeks updates on how these issues affect ongoing trade negotiations.

Question

With India arbitrarily detaining UK nationals such as my constituent Jagtar Singh Johal for over four years now and failing to defend the democratic right of national self-determination for Ukraine, can the Minister tell us how the trade negotiations are going?

Answer from Vicky Ford

Again, I point to the important statement that the Foreign Secretary made yesterday. It is vital that we continue to strengthen our economic and defence relationship with India. However, the constituency case of Jagtar Singh Johal that the hon. Gentleman mentions was raised by the Foreign Secretary recently with her counterparts in India.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Status of trade negotiations not detailed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)