Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

India: Economic and Security Relationship

Tuesday 26 April 2022 · 6 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK is deepening defence and security ties with India.
  • India is being encouraged to engage in dialogue to resolve issues like Kashmir.
  • Issues of human rights and religious freedom are raised with the Indian Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Metcalfe Con
Defence Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The MP is inquiring about the UK's recent diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with India.

Question

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

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

India is the world's largest democracy and a key partner of the United Kingdom. We are deepening our defence and security ties, as well as securing a trade deal by the end of the year.

Partly answered

How: Under Review

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Q2 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Defence Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The MP acknowledges the Foreign Secretary's efforts to deepen ties with India and asks how the UK can help move India away from its relationship with Russia.

Question

How will my right hon. Friend ensure that our friendship continues with India while moving it back towards the west?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

My hon. Friend is a huge champion for the Indian community in Harrow East, and he is right: India is a democracy. We want to work more closely with India and other democracies to reduce dependence on authoritarian regimes such as Russia. We can do that by working more closely with India on defence, which is what the Prime Minister was doing on his visit to India last week, and more closely on trade and investment.

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Q3 Stephen Metcalfe Con
Defence Foreign Affairs Business & Trade
Context

The MP welcomes the Prime Minister's visit to boost UK-India ties in the Indo-Pacific region.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that following his trip, the UK will continue to work closely with our friends in India to deliver a more secure and prosperous future for both our peoples?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

That is right. First, we are working more closely with India on defence, to benefit industries in both our countries and make our countries more secure and less dependent on authoritarian regimes. At the same time, we will be delivering more commercial benefits. When the Prime Minister was in India he confirmed deals of more than £1 billion, creating almost 11,000 new jobs in the United Kingdom.

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Q4 Imran Hussain Lab Bradford East
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to raise human rights concerns with Indian authorities but received no response.

Question

When will this Government fulfil their international obligation to address the human rights abuses against Kashmiris and those persecuted by the right-wing Modi Government in India?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

On Kashmir, we encourage both sides to engage in dialogue and find lasting diplomatic solutions to maintain regional stability. We raise our concerns with the Governments of both India and Pakistan.

Partly answered

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Q5 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

The MP asks about discussions to address human rights violations against Christians and Muslims in India.

Question

What discussions have taken place to ensure that when it comes to addressing the persecution of Christians and Muslims, and the abuse of human rights in India, something is being done?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

Of course we raise the issue of human rights with the Indian Government. Indeed, later this summer we will host a conference in London on the subject of religious freedom, led by my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce). This is an important issue for us.

Partly answered

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Q6 David Lammy Lab Tottenham
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP criticises the Prime Minister for not addressing India's stance on the Ukraine conflict during his visit.

Question

Will the Foreign Secretary explain her failure to bring India into the international coalition condemning Putin's invasion of Ukraine?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss

Of course, I have discussed the issue of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine with the Indian Government, but the right hon. Gentleman is completely wrong if he thinks that the right approach for Britain is to go around finger-wagging to the rest of the world rather than working to build strong relationships and partnerships to attract India and others to work more closely with us.

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