Asked by Lord Chidgey To ask Her Majesty’s Government what
plans they have to engage United Kingdom parliamentarians in the
process and programme for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting in the United Kingdom, in particular with
respect to the expansion and strengthening of international
cultural, trade and investment initiatives. The Minister
of...Request free trial
Asked by
-
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to
engage United Kingdom parliamentarians in the process and
programme for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting in the United Kingdom, in particular
with respect to the expansion and strengthening of
international cultural, trade and investment initiatives.
-
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con)
My Lords, this Government recognise the strong contribution
of UK parliamentarians to Commonwealth activities,
including on enhancing opportunities for trade and
investment. We will engage closely with parliamentarians
and other Commonwealth stakeholders, including the CPA UK,
in designing and delivering an ambitious, creative and
innovative Commonwealth summit. We want to make the most of
all the Commonwealth has to offer and demonstrate a
Commonwealth that is truly relevant for the 21st century.
-
(LD)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. The CHOGM
summit provides a golden opportunity for all Commonwealth
parliamentarians to demonstrate their commitment to
democracy, transparency, the rule of law and human rights
as laid down in the Commonwealth charter. Will the
Minister, therefore, press the Government to support the
CPA UK’s plan to hold a linked Commonwealth conference
prior to CHOGM? Will she press for a parliamentary forum at
CHOGM itself, following the example set by many
international high-level meetings?
-
The noble Lord raises important points, all of which we are
very much taking into account, I assure him. Indeed, most
recently I met Andrew Tuggey of the CPA UK to discuss what
shape its plans might take—not only, of course, what
deliverables there could be for the event itself, but the
participation by CPA UK members more generally in the civil
society events.
-
(Con)
My Lords, I declare an interest as chairman of the
Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council. Is not one
of the best ways of engaging parliamentarians up to CHOGM
to boost the current Prime Minister’s trade envoys network,
which is cross-parliamentary and has been very successful?
Would not my noble friend the Minister agree that a
dedicated Commonwealth trade envoy should be appointed, as
suggested by the Maltese chair-in-office of the
Commonwealth?
-
Again, those are important points. On the trade envoys,
eight envoys currently cover 10 Commonwealth countries. The
programme has been recently reviewed and recommendations on
the future direction of the programme, including suggested
new markets, are with No 10 for consideration. We will
certainly take the proposal for a trade envoy or ambassador
into consideration.
-
(Lab)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that parliamentarians
across the Commonwealth should also be involved in
campaigns for more openness, which should include science
and law? This week there was a conference about the
openness of legal aspects of the Commonwealth at the
University of London.
-
I am delighted that the noble Lord has raised this issue.
We discussed it briefly outside the Chamber and I assure
him that his views will be taken firmly into account.
-
(CB)
My Lords, would it not be plausible to make full use of the
internet and to devise a website to allow for two-way
exchanges of opinion among all parliamentarians around the
whole of the Commonwealth?
-
I assure the noble Viscount that, as part of the programmes
that we are putting forward and consulting widely on, it is
our intention to make the best use we can of the internet
and all it can deliver. In some areas around the world, of
course, it is more difficult to get the broadband speed.
However he is absolutely right that modern communication is
important. After all, we have to think of the young age of
most people across the Commonwealth.
-
(LD)
My Lords, the first principle of the Commonwealth charter
is democracy. Therefore my noble friend is undoubtedly
right. The second concerns human rights. Will the Minister
guarantee that the Government will put as a major theme the
promotion not only of women’s rights but of those within
the LGBT community?
-
Again, that is a very important issue; “yes” is the answer
to it. However, more particularly, we are working out our
plans to ensure that important messages are delivered on
LGBTI issues at the summit. I have already had discussions
about this and I know that Kaleidoscope and the
Commonwealth Equality Network are putting forward an
agenda, and we want to see how that can feed into the work
that we are doing.
-
(Con)
My Lords, I reinforce the remarks of the noble Lord,
, and my noble
friend . Does my noble
friend agree that the pathway from here to the Commonwealth
summit next April is an immensely important one and that we
must do everything we can to strengthen it? Will she accept
my very strong welcome for the decision of the Prime
Minister to appoint a powerful Cabinet Office unit to carry
this work forward? Does she agree with the comments of my
noble friend that a network of
2.5 billion people using English as their working language
is a fabulous potential opportunity for this country? Will
she urge all concerned, especially some of the doubters
about the potential of the Commonwealth, that they should
look to the future of our service-based economy rather than
harp on about the past?
-
As always on Commonwealth matters, my noble friend makes
the most important points and I can do no more than
thoroughly agree with him.
-
(Lab)
My Lords, will the Government ensure that educational
exchanges at all levels are given a high priority?
-
Indeed, my Lords. That is the reason the Commonwealth team is
cross-departmental, which ensures that we can take all the
issues into account.
-
(Con)
My Lords, my noble friend the Minister has outlined the
design and creation of an appropriate programme. I declare an
interest as the leader of a Commonwealth initiative on
freedom of religion or belief. Will she consider meeting, as
she has done in the past, parliamentarians and
representatives from CPA UK, the Youth Parliament and the
Commonwealth Youth Parliament so that everyone can play a
part in designing the programme?
-
My Lords, recently I met a representative of the Youth
Parliament and discussed issues around the summit. I assure
my noble friend that the important point she has made will
indeed be taken into consideration. I am already holding a
series of meetings, as are members of the Commonwealth team
now based in the Cabinet Office.
-
(Lab)
My Lords, one important consideration about trade which is
often ignored is the need to ensure that we advocate strong
minimum standards and support the International Labour
Organization. I hope that the noble Baroness will be able to
reassure the House that when we engage civil society in
CHOGM, we will also include trade unions and the
international trade union movement so that we can advocate
strong labour standards.
-
Yes, my Lords. Yesterday I had the privilege of being able to
meet Owen Tudor, who heads the TUC’s international relations
office, to discuss how his agenda and the decisions that
might be made in June by TUC organisations can feed into the
summit process.
|
