Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Commonwealth Countries

Tuesday 13 December 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

  • The Department aims to strengthen relations with Commonwealth countries across various policy priorities including climate, human rights, health, education, and security.
  • The UK is deepening engagement with Commonwealth nations on matters of economy, foreign policy, culture, and security, post-EU departure.
  • Discussions include addressing human rights issues with Commonwealth countries that do not uphold freedom of religion or belief.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alexander Stafford
Education Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

MP inquires about strengthening ties between the UK and Commonwealth nations.

Question

What diplomatic steps is the Department taking to strengthen relations with Commonwealth countries?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

We want to see a Commonwealth that delivers greater benefits to all member states across a range of policy priorities, including climate, human rights, health, education and security. We are building long-term partnerships on shared priorities, such as on trade, where we have secured free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand and are presently negotiating further FTAs with Canada and India.

Partly answered

How: Under Review, Building Long-Term Partnerships

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Q2 Alexander Stafford
Economy Community Security Foreign Affairs Culture, Media & Sport
Context

MP emphasizes the importance of the Commonwealth in an uncertain world and asks about steps to deepen economic, foreign policy, cultural, and security ties.

Question

In the wake of our departure from the EU, what steps is my right hon. Friend taking to deepen our engagement with Commonwealth on matters to do with the economy, foreign policy, culture and security?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

In an increasingly uncertain world, where sovereignty is challenged, the UK believes that the Commonwealth provides an important network of prospering free nations. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June, we agreed funding of £270 million to support girls' education across the Commonwealth and £15 million to help the Commonwealth countries defend themselves against cyber-attacks.

Partly answered

How: Building An Important Network, Agreed Funding

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Q3 Meg Hillier Labour (Co-op) Hackney South and Shoreditch
Democracy & Elections
Context

MP raises concerns about the lack of financial oversight in Montserrat and asks for support from the Minister.

Question

Perhaps we could have a conversation about that so that we can support proper financial scrutiny of Government spending wherever it happens in the Commonwealth.

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

As a former member of the hon. Lady's Public Accounts Committee, I would be very happy to take that up. I know that Lord Ahmad in the other place would be willing to sit down with her.

Answered
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Q4 Maria Miller Con
Foreign Affairs
Context

MP discusses issues with CPA headquarters' charity status and requests a meeting to resolve it.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend agree to meet me and Lord Goldsmith to effect that change?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

I am happy to commit to that. I know that the Foreign Secretary and you, Mr Speaker, have also discussed this important issue, and I will make sure it is picked up as soon as possible.

Answered
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Q5 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

MP highlights the issue of human rights abuses and asks about discussions with those countries.

Question

What discussions has the Minister been able to have with those Commonwealth countries that do not allow freedom of religion or belief and that do persecute people about human rights?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The hon. Gentleman is a stalwart champion on this matter. I can assure him that in all our conversations with the Commonwealth countries within my regional portfolios and those of other Ministers, we always have on our agenda the question of human rights issues. We are a strong and critical friend where we need to be, and that will always continue.

Partly answered

How: Critical Friend

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Q6 Catherine West Lab Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Foreign Affairs
Context

MP welcomes the Foreign Secretary's comments but questions if the vision is achievable given strained budgets.

Question

Does he accept that under the current approach, his vision is simply unachievable?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

I thank the hon. Lady for her comments on the Foreign Secretary's speech yesterday, which I thought set out very clearly the patient diplomacy that we consider the Commonwealth to be at the heart of. These are long-standing relationships, where we work together to build, to help economies to grow and on mutual security issues.

Partly answered

How: Long-Standing Relationships, Patient Diplomacy

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