Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of
the progress made on delivering commitments agreed at the 2018
Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting; and what is their
agenda for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office () (Con)
My Lords, as chair-in-office the UK has worked hard with the
whole Commonwealth family to deliver on the leaders’ CHOGM 2018
commitments. This has included over £500 million of UK-funded
projects and programmes, as set out in the chair-in-office
report, which we published and placed in the Library of this
House last September. The United Kingdom will continue as
chair-in-office until CHOGM can take place and we will continue
to pursue the declared and shared priorities that leaders agreed
on fairness, security, sustainability and prosperity.
(Lab)
My Lords, we remain chair-in-office following the cancellation of
the Rwanda meeting, so we have an ongoing commitment. I hope that
the Minister will ensure that, when we monitor the progress that
we have made on those commitments at London, he updates them and
ensures that Parliament has access to them—it would be good if we
could have a debate—in particular on strengthening democratic
institutions. What steps are the Government taking to strengthen
the role of civil society across the Commonwealth? This is an
important ingredient to guarantee and further the cause of
democracy.
(Con)
My Lords, first, I am sure that the noble Lord did not mean
“cancellation”; it is a postponement of the CHOGM. On the second
point, which is practical, I assure the noble Lord that, as
Minister of State for the Commonwealth, I shall seek to take up
all opportunities, including future debates, as long as we remain
chair-in-office—and indeed beyond when Rwanda takes over. On the
specifics of the agenda, we will continue to support democracy
and champion human rights, inclusion and the rule of law, which
includes issues of media freedom, LGBT rights and gender
equality, as well as 12 years of quality education for girls. On
that final element, the joint meeting that we are having with
Kenya will bring further focus to that priority.
(CB)
[V]
Last September, the Foreign Secretary claimed that the UK had
helped to update laws discriminating against women, girls and
LGBT communities in six Commonwealth countries, which he could
not mention. Can the Minister, who we know stands up for human
rights, now name those countries and confirm that this project is
complete and that there is no more discrimination?
(Con)
My Lords, on the noble Earl’s second question, this is of course
ongoing. Dealing with discrimination is never a job done, whether
at home or abroad, and we need to remain vigilant on the issue.
On the specific countries, some have declared quite openly the
reforms that they have undertaken. Others, because of domestic
sensitivities, have sought more discreet support from us in that
regard, which is why we have not named them specifically. I am
sure that the noble Earl is aware of several countries that have
declared progress on, for example, the important priority of LGBT
issues.
(Lab)
My Lords, there have been a number of Questions in your
Lordships’ House about the education of girls, the answers to
which usually rely on the repetition of sums of money allocated
by the Government. Can the Minister give a concrete example of an
action taken to move towards providing 12 years of high-quality
education for girls—and indeed for boys? Could he specify a
proposal that the UK Government will have on the agenda to move
more quickly to achieve this goal?
(Con)
My Lords, I can certainly share with the noble Baroness,
including in my responsibilities as Minister for South Asia, how
we have invested specifically not just in school building
programmes in Pakistan—a Commonwealth country—but in teaching,
textbooks and support, ensuring that there is an inclusivity to
the educational agenda. As I said in response to an earlier
question, the issue is never done. We need to remain focused on
delivering the priority on girls’ education. We have seen over
£200 million spent on 11 countries and I would be happy to
provide specifics of other programmes to the noble Baroness.
(LD)
My Lords, the pandemic has shown the devastation that is caused
by a global health crisis. What action has been taken since the
2018 CHOGM to address, as promised there, antimicrobial
resistance? Has the FCDO assessed what effect the cuts to science
and research that it has just carried through might have had on
the UK’s contribution in this area?
(Con)
My Lords, on the first question, we continue to focus on that
issue, which has informed much of our research. On spending on
research, as the noble Baroness is aware, we have allocated
specific sums to research as a stand-alone function in the budget
assessments that we have made. Also, across the seven themes and
priorities that the Foreign Secretary has outlined, research
budgets will be specifically allocated to fulfil those
objectives.
(Lab) [V]
My Lords, as part of the task force of the Commonwealth arising
out of CHOGM, a commitment was made to allow girls aged nine to
13 to have access to HP vaccinations, as we know that 40% of
incidences and 43% of deaths in the Commonwealth are from
cervical cancer.
(Con)
My Lords, on the specifics, I will write to the noble Baroness
with an update on vaccines. The commitment that we gave to
supporting global health in the context of the Commonwealth
remains a priority for us as chair-in-office. Indeed, we are
discussing this with the next chair-in-office, Rwanda.
(Con)
My Lords, I was pleased to see sexual and reproductive health
referred to at last week’s Commonwealth Health Ministers’
meeting. Does my noble friend agree that access to comprehensive
sexual and reproductive health services and rights and
comprehensive sexual education are essential to achieve the aims
of the Government and the Commonwealth on 12 years of quality
education? If so, will he commit the Government to putting these
issues on the agenda at the next Heads of Government Meeting?
(Con)
I can certainly say yes to my noble friend on the commitment and
prioritisation that we need to give and assure her that I will
raise this issue directly with Rwanda and press for the inclusion
of SRHR in the CHOGM communiqué.
(CB) [V]
My Lords, I declare my interests as set out in the register. Will
the Minister tell me what specific action the Government are
undertaking to mobilise delivery of the commitment made in 2018
at CHOGM to halve malaria in the Commonwealth by 2023? Are not
that commitment and our credibility undermined by the cuts in
bilateral malaria programmes—for example, in Nigeria—occasioned
by the abandonment of our 0.7% spending commitment?
(Con)
My Lords, I clearly recall working with the noble Baroness on
prioritising fighting malaria in the run-up to and through CHOGM
2018. We have made some real progress on deliverables across the
Commonwealth in raising awareness and on vaccinations. The noble
Baroness raises specific questions within country programmes.
Those are being finalised, but I can assure her that we are
seeking to prioritise health and particularly vaccination.
(Lab)
My Lords, the commitments on education are welcome, even if they
have been undermined by the Government’s spending cuts on global
education. The last year has shown how important it is to make
advances in digital education provision. The Government of Rwanda
have prioritised digitisation in public services for their time
as chair-in-office. Will the UK Government and the Government of
Rwanda work together to ensure that across the Commonwealth we
can see an escalation of advance in digitising education
provision, so that, should there be a future pandemic, so many
millions will not lose out quite so much?
(Con)
The noble Lord makes a very practical suggestion and I can assure
him that we are talking with the Government of Rwanda, with
Foreign Minister Biruta and with the Secretary-General—we had a
meeting only yesterday. While there has been a postponement on
CHOGM, we will continue to work very much in association with the
Government of Rwanda. The noble Lord makes a very practical
suggestion, which has application not just in the context of what
Rwanda may do but in delivering girls’ education and prioritising
education in the UK’s overall ODA programme.
(LD)
My Lords, the theme of the London CHOGM was “Towards a common
future”, whereas for Kigali it is “Delivering a common future”.
Will the Minister clarify what progress has been made between
these finely nuanced positions, particularly for Commonwealth
trade compared to the EU? What is the Government’s response to
the Economist’s view that believing increased Commonwealth trade
would fill the gap left by the EU was an admirable delusion?
(Con)
My Lords, I would say that it was not a delusion. We have already
seen practical initiatives, including SheTrades, which has
supported 3,300 women entrepreneurs. It is good that we see
consistency across the piece between the two Commonwealth
countries.
(Con)
My Lords, one of our commitments was to lead and strengthen the
structures of the Commonwealth to become a powerful economic
bloc. Much of our focus since CHOGM 2018 has been on negotiating
a free trade agreement with India, but there are other sizeable
economies in south Asia. Will my noble friend tell me what
efforts are being made to engage fully with Pakistan, Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka in relation to trade?
(Con)
My Lords, my noble friend is quite right that the issue of
prosperity was a declared priority. We are working with
associations within the Commonwealth, including that led by my
noble friend on pursuing
trade and business across the Commonwealth. There is a
recognition of intra-Commonwealth trade and investment and an
ambition has been set for $2 trillion-worth of trade. On south
Asia, I can talk with some degree of insight as the Minister for
South Asia. My noble friend is correct to point to India, but I
can assure her that we are working in very practical terms with
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We are very focused on the
trade element, including setting up teams across Whitehall, which
include not only FCDO Ministers, but DIT Ministers as well.
