Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Tebbit (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 2 December 2009.

Commonwealth: Caribbean

Question: My Lords, the noble Baroness may have not quite heard the question put to her by my noble friend. As I understood it, he was asking when Parliament had had the opportunity to debate the proposal that Rwanda should be admitted to the Commonwealth. That, it appears, was government policy. Did we all know that it was government policy?

Answer: My Lords, those of us who follow issues relating to the Commonwealth were very well aware that this was being discussed. I am very surprised that the noble Lord seems to be unaware that this has been discussed for two years or more. It is not the practice to ratify such a decision made by the Commonwealth in national parliaments, whether that of the UK or of any other Commonwealth member.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 715 c740
Session: 2009-10
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Related items: Rwanda
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Written questions
House of Lords; Rwanda
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Commonwealth Foreign relations Caribbean Conferences Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk