Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 July 2011.

State Recognition

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 23 November 2010 (WA 296), concerning recognition of states, whether all states recognised in the past 51 years have been considered against the same criteria.

Answer: I can confirm that decisions on recognition of states since 1989 have been considered against the normal criteria that we apply for the recognition of a state, as described in the Written Answer by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr Sainsbury (Official Report, Commons, 16 November 1989, col. 494). It is also believed that decisions prior to 1989 were considered against the same criteria, but providing a comprehensive answer in relation to all decisions on recognition in the past 51 years would involve extensive research of records that are not centrally held, which could not be carried out without incurring disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 10825; 729 c285WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: {value: 93522, field_name: "type_ses"}
Thursday, 16 November 1989
Written questions
House of Commons; Diplomatic Missions: State Recognition
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Recognition of states
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk