Written question asked by Lord Tebbit (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Brett (Labour) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.

Rwanda

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 14 December 2009 (WA 175), when the admission of Rwanda to the Commonwealth was debated or approved by either House of Parliament.

Answer: Further to the answer I gave in the House of Lords on 2 December 2009, and the written response I gave on 14 December (HL542), the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala saw a review of the membership criteria and the condition of a "constitutional link" was replaced by a "close link" to an existing Commonwealth member state. The UK has supported Rwanda's bid to join the Commonwealth from this time onwards. This matter has been discussed publicly since this time. It is not the practice to ratify such decisions made by the Commonwealth or Member States in national parliaments—including that of the UK. The decision on new applications to join is taken by all the Commonwealth Heads of Government. Commonwealth Heads of Government voted unanimously to allow Rwanda to join the organisation in Trinidad in November 2009.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1026; 716 c152WA
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Commonwealth: Caribbean
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Oral questions
House of Lords; Commonwealth: Caribbean
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Oral answers to questions
House of Lords; Democratic Republic of Congo
Monday, 14 December 2009
Written questions
House of Lords; Rwanda
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Commonwealth Membership Parliamentary scrutiny Rwanda
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk