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855689

	registered interest
	date	05/03/2018
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether political rights and democracy are planned to be a priority agenda item for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	130995
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2018 answer text We are engaging with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other member states to agree the agenda for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. We anticipate a range of discussions during the week, which reflect the shared values of the Commonwealth, including on political rights and democracy as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 08/03/2018 14:51:20 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

776980

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2017
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to communicate with hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords plans for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	109465
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2017 answer text <p>​We recognise the extraordinary contribution Parliamentarians can make to the Commonwealth's rejuvenation, both by sharing their wealth of expertise and knowledge and by contributing to activities that celebrate the Commonwealth across the UK in the run up to and during the week of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.</p><p>Lord Ahmad, Minister for the Commonwealth, is in regular contact with parliamentarians from both Houses, engaging with the All Party Parliamentary Group, through Commonwealth Organisations such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK and by meeting many Parliamentarians individually to set out our plans. Lord Ahmad plans to write to Parliamentarians in both Houses shortly to outline further details regarding the summit.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 30/10/2017 16:23:17 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

865211

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2018
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government’s priorities are for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in April 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
	tabling member printed	Richard Burden
	uin	133078
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2018 answer text <p>We want the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to agree tangible action across the four policy areas of prosperity, security, sustainability and fairness. These four areas have been agreed by all member states. With 60% of the Commonwealth's population under the age of 30, we believe it is particularly important that the summit speaks to the challenges faced by young people and addresses their ambitions. We also want the summit to celebrate the people to people and civil society ties that makes the Commonwealth such a unique and important institution.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 21/03/2018 16:52:54 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

862061

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2018
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including a statement on the right to freedom of religion or belief in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Joint Communiqué.
	tabling member constituency	Stafford
	tabling member printed	Jeremy Lefroy
	uin	132480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2018 answer text <p>We are currently working with fellow member states to negotiate the communiqué for next month's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. While it would be inappropriate to comment on those negotiations, the UK considers freedom of religion and belief to be one of the Commonwealth's core values.</p><p>Encouraging member states to uphold the values and principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter – which include freedom of religion as well as democracy, freedom of expression, the rule of law and opposition to all forms of discrimination – will be an important part of April's summit.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 21/03/2018 17:22:01 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	4109 label Biography information for Jeremy Lefroy

867382

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2018
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the outputs published from the Commonwealth Parliamentarians’ Forum hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from 26 February to 1 March 2018, whether he plans to take steps in response to those outputs; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Rochford and Southend East
	tabling member printed	James Duddridge
	uin	133357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2018 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary was delighted to address delegates to the Commonwealth Parliamentarians' Forum during their recent visit to London. He has received copies of the forum outputs, including: the Declaration of the First Commonwealth Parliamentarians Forum; The Youth Delegate Declaration; and a letter from delegates calling for the creation of a Commonwealth Climate Change Council at April's Heads of Government Meeting.</p><p>Mitigating the effects of climate change, especially as it affects small island states, will be one of the main policy areas leaders will discuss at the summit. Issues affecting the Commonwealth's young population will also feature prominently during the summit, with one of the four official forums at the start of the week dedicated to Youth.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 28/03/2018 13:17:51 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge

999188

	registered interest
	date	31/10/2018
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the actions agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Rochford and Southend East
	tabling member printed	James Duddridge
	uin	186274
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2018 answer text <p>Further to my answer to PQ 162458, the UK continues to work with the three pillars of the Commonwealth – the Commonwealth Secretariat, its member states, and its people to people networks – to deliver on commitments set out in the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) communique. For example;</p><ul><li><p>Member states have increased cooperation in international organisations. In Geneva, the UK hosted a meeting of Commonwealth Permanent Representatives to discuss multilateral issues in advance of the Human Rights Council. New Zealand has hosted a similar Commonwealth meeting to discuss issues relating to the World Trade Organisation. In New York, it has been agreed that Commonwealth members of the UN Security Council will regularly brief other Commonwealth countries in Security Council business.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The Prime Minister included a passage on the Commonwealth in her speech to the UN General Assembly. She spoke explicitly as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office on behalf of the Heads of Government of 53 Commonwealth countries – over a quarter of the UN membership – to reaffirm their shared shared commitment to work together within a rules based international system to address shared global challenges.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The UK and Ghana convened the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth-led Digital Finance Champions Group in Accra on 26 September. The initiative will drive the use of secure and inclusive digital finance, especially for vulnerable and underbanked people.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The Commonwealth Standards Network launched in Geneva on 26 September. The network aims to boost trade between Commonwealth member states by increasing the use of existing international standards. The network will allow member states to share knowledge and enable the creation of vital links between our economies.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Following the lead of Commonwealth Heads of Government, 152 countries have now endorsed the joint statement calling on states to leave no girl behind, and provide opportunity for at least 12 years of quality education for all girls and boys.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Following its launch in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, over 1,300 women entrepreneurs have registered with 'SheTrades Commonwealth'. The Programme aims to increase economic growth and job creation by enabling the increased participation of women-owned businesses in international trade.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Guyana has become the first country to partner with the UK funded Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme to develop a Maritime Economy Plan. The Programme aims to support the sustainable growth and development of 17 Commonwealth Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean and Pacific.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Twenty countries, over a third of the Commonwealth, have now signed up to the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance – the Blue Charter Action Group co-chaired by the UK and Vanuatu to tackle marine plastic pollution. During her visit to Africa in September, the Prime Minister announced that the UK would make up to an additional £5 million available to provide technical assistance to developing countries that join the initiative.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The Prime Minister also announced a Young Leaders Plastic Challenge Badge, working in partnership with UN Environment, Scouts and Girl Guides, to help an estimated 50,000 young people in Kenya and two further African countries to become leaders in raising awareness about the importance of reducing plastic consumption.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>In support of the Commonwealth Cyber Declaration, the UK has partnered with the World Bank to deliver national cyber security capacity reviews in 11 member states. With support from Oxford University's Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre and Australia's Oceania Centre, we are now well placed to meet the commitment for every Commonwealth country to voluntarily undertake reviews by CHOGM 2020.</p></li></ul> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 09/11/2018 13:04:45 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge

937865

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2018
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Communiqué entitled Towards a Common Future published on 20 April 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	162458
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/07/2018 answer text <p>As Chair-in-Office, the UK is working with Commonwealth partners to ensure the delivery of commitments set out in the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) communique and to build a Commonwealth which is fairer and more prosperous, sustainable, and secure.</p><p>The Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Member States have already made good progress in the two months following CHOGM. For example:</p><p>· The Commonwealth Secretariat convened, and the UK chaired, the first Senior Trade Officials Meeting to agree the framework for implementation of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment;</p><p>· Vanuatu, which co-Chairs the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance with the UK, became the first country in the world to enact a ban on the manufacture and sale of single use plastic bags, polystyrene takeaway boxes, and plastic drinking straws. Indian Prime Minister Modi has announced a ban of all single use plastics, which will come into effect in 2022;</p><p>· The UK and the International Trade Centre launched SheTrades Commonwealth in Kenya to enable the increased participation of women-owned businesses in international trade; and</p><p>· Thérèse Coffey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, hosted Commonwealth High Commissioners to discuss ambitions and expertise in tackling plastic pollution, and provide more detail of the UK support available to them to help them reduce plastic pollution in our Oceans under the Commonwealth Blue Charter.</p> answering member constituency North East Bedfordshire answering member printed Alistair Burt question first answered 16/07/2018 14:57:25 answering member 1201 label Biography information for Alistair Burt
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching