Extract from FCO
questions: Commonwealth Summit: London
(Glasgow North)
(SNP): I wonder whether the Commonwealth summit will be
discussing the welcome appointment of an Indian judge to the
International Court of Justice at the expense of a judge from the
United Kingdom. Perhaps the summit will therefore also discuss
how that is another sign of the sun setting on “Empire 2.0”
before it has even risen.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs (Boris Johnson): On the contrary, I am sure that
the whole House will join me in congratulating the Indian judge
on his election. I am sure that the House will also agree that it
is a fine thing that another common-law judge has joined the
International Court of Justice.
(Strangford) (DUP):
Will the Secretary of State further outline the discussions he
has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European
Union on the need for a solidified trade deal between the 52
Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan, India, Australia and
New Zealand as four examples? Does he agree that must be a
priority for London 2018?
: I fully support the
hon. Gentleman’s aspiration. Free trade deals and the prospect of
increased trade with our Commonwealth friends and partners will,
indeed, be at the heart of the summit next year.
TOPICAL
QUESTIONS
(Nottingham South)
(Lab): We continue to hear reports of violence and human
rights violations in Kashmir. Tensions in the region remain high,
and there seems to have been little or no progress towards peace
and security. What recent discussions about Kashmir has the
Minister had with the Indian and Pakistani Governments, and what
assessment has he made of prospects for any improvement in the
security situation in the region? [901936]
The Minister for Africa (Rory Stewart): The
situation in Kashmir is still tragic, as it has been for many
decades. The position of the British Government remains that this
is an issue to be resolved between the Governments of India and
Pakistan, but we continue to champion issues relating to human
rights abuse with both Governments whenever they occur, and we
will continue to monitor the situation extremely carefully.
(Newark) (Con):
There is no hiding from the fact that the loss of a British judge
on the International Court of Justice is a major failure for
British diplomacy. What lessons will the Foreign Office learn to
ensure that this does not happen again?
: I cannot quite
agree with the construction my hon. Friend places on events, but
I repeat my congratulations to the Indian judge. As the House
will know, a long-standing objective of UK foreign policy has
been to support India in the United Nations.
(West
Dunbartonshire) (SNP): Will the Minister tell us what
discussions he has had with the Government of India about their
human rights record in the state of the Punjab, critically in
relation to my constituent, Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been in
custody since 4 November without charge? There is now a
possibility—or accusation—of torture, and the Prime Minister
indicated the Government’s personal interest on BBC radio
yesterday. Will the Minister advise me and the House how the
Secretary of State is working with the office of the Prime
Minister to assist my constituent and his family in Dunbarton?
: We have taken this
issue very seriously. The deputy high commissioner managed to
gain access, and we have now had a meeting with the hon.
Gentleman’s constituent. We take any allegation of torture
seriously, as, indeed, do the Indian Government. It is completely
unconstitutional and offensive to the British Government. We will
work very closely to investigate the matter and will, of course,
take extreme action if a British citizen is being tortured.
Extract from
Westminster Hall debate on Medicines Regulation
(Bishop Auckland)
(Lab):...Ministers need to keep in mind that the
pharmaceutical industry is international and highly mobile. There
is world-class production in France, Switzerland and America, and
generics are made across the globe, in China
and India...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
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