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G8: 2007 Summit

My Lords, the noble Baroness is right to commend Chancellor Merkel on the outcome of the summit, and the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, is right to commend the Prime Minister on his efforts over the past two years in helpingto bring about the outcome at Gleneagles and Heiligendamm. I particularly welcome the progress on climate change, due partly to a move by the United States but also by the presence at Heiligendamm of the representatives of China and India. Can the Minister say whether, even if there is not to be a G13 in the future, it is inconceivable now that there could be a G8 summit dealing with the big global issues that does not include at least China and India? I also welcome the progress on aid to Africa, but it is only a small step along a long road. Could the noble Baroness also confirm that the Government will continue to put strong pressure on other Governments to fulfil the aid commitments agreed at the Gleneagles summit?