The hon. Lady is right that Zimbabwe has a productive and vibrant diaspora in the United Kingdom, and we hear their views many times. Britain warned that the election needed to be violence-free and fair, and it was certainly violence-free. We are waiting for the full report of the observers before making a judgment on further events.

I regularly discuss a broad range of issues, including Zimbabwe, with Commonwealth counterparts, most recently on Sunday in Dubai when I met the Commonwealth secretary-general, Baroness Scotland. The decision on re-entry is for all members, based on the membership requirements and the values and principles set out in the Commonwealth charter.

The UK echoes the African Union's condemnation of the unconstitutional military takeover of power in Gabon and calls for the restoration of constitutional government, in line with the Commonwealth Charter.

I have held discussions with African counterparts on recent political events in Gabon during my recent visit to Rwanda and Kenya. I have also spoken with the Commonwealth Secretary-General about the situation. UK officials are closely monitoring the situation and working closely with Commonwealth partners on next steps.

The decision on whether Zimbabwe re-joins the Commonwealth is for all Commonwealth members. We recognise the value of having Zimbabwe back in the Commonwealth, but any re-entry would need to be on the basis that Zimbabwe meets admission requirements and is able to uphold the values and principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter. Zimbabwe's General Elections this August present a clear opportunity for the Government to demonstrate progress against the principles of the Charter, namely respect for human rights and freedom for the political opposition, civil society and media to operate.

We provide support to British pensioners in Commonwealth countries on the same basis as we do for any British national in foreign or Commonwealth countries. Our consular staff are contactable 24/7, 365 days a year and strive to provide the right tailored assistance to those who request our help, doing more for those who need more help.

I will take note of the particular issues and raise them with the Department for Work and Pensions, which is responsible for those policy areas.

As set out in our International Development Strategy the UK is committed to providing women and girls with the freedom they need to succeed, unlocking their future potential, educating girls, supporting their empowerment and protecting them against violence.

The FCDO works closely with EU and Commonwealth counterparts at all levels to progress gender equality both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. For instance, the G7 2022 Communique makes multiple references to progressing gender equality and supporting the empowerment of women and girls. At the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Leaders adopted a Declaration for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women 2022-2030.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/g7-foreign-ministers-meeting-in-germany-2022-communique/g7-foreign-ministers-meeting-in-germany-2022-communique

https://thecommonwealth.org/our-work/gender

When Commonwealth leaders came together in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2018, they agreed a range of ambitious policy objectives to create a fairer, more sustainable, more prosperous, and more secure Commonwealth. To help realise that vision, the UK announced over half a billion pounds of programmes and projects across HMG, covering a range of important policy themes. Details of UK delivery against these commitments, overseen by the FCDO, are set out in our two comprehensive Commonwealth Chair-in-Office reports: 2018-2020 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/916018/UK-Commonwealth-Chair-in-Office-Report-2018-2020.pdf

and 2020-22,

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-commonwealth-chair-in-office-report-addendum-2020-to-2022/uk-commonwealth-chair-in-office-report-addendum-2020-to-2022-continued-delivery-of-commonwealth-summit-commitments

these have been laid in the libraries of both Houses.

Togo was welcomed into the Commonwealth family by a consensus of all member states at the Kigali Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June 2022. Preceding this, a detailed four step readiness assessment was undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Scotland, submitted this assessment to Commonwealth Heads of Government for consideration at the CHOGM Leaders' Retreat. Togo's accession was confirmed by the CHOGM Leaders Statement of 25 June. The UK welcomes Togo's accession to the Commonwealth, demonstrating the continued relevance and vitality of this truly global association.

The decision on whether Zimbabwe re-joins the Commonwealth is for all Commonwealth members. The UK will support re-admission if Zimbabwe meets the admission requirements and complies with the values and principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter.

Gabon was welcomed into the Commonwealth family by a consensus of all member states at the Kigali Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June 2022. Preceding this, a detailed four step readiness assessment was undertaken by the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Scotland, submitted this assessment to Commonwealth Heads of Government for consideration at the CHOGM Leaders' Retreat. Gabon's accession was confirmed by the CHOGM Leaders Statement of 25 June. The UK welcomes Gabon's accession to the Commonwealth, demonstrating the continued relevance and vitality of this truly global association.

At the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) on 16 September 2021, chaired by the Foreign Secretary, member states agreed to continue to work collaboratively with each other and with the Commonwealth Secretariat to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, including supporting timely, equitable and affordable access to COVID 19 vaccines and related health products and technologies.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that people in the poorest countries receive vaccines. We have contributed £548 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) Facility, which is ensuring equitable access for 92 low and middle-income countries, 46 of which are in Africa. As of 6 January 2022, COVAX has delivered more than 335 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 44 African COVAX AMC countries. In addition to our financial support to COVAX, the UK has donated 7.9 million surplus doses to 14 African countries.

The Foreign Secretary last met the Commonwealth Secretary-General when she chaired a virtual Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) on 16 September, her first full day in office. Ministers discussed vital issues including building better from COVID-19.

The Foreign Secretary last met the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the virtual Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), which he chaired on 14 October 2020. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, regularly engages with the Secretary-General in Commonwealth meetings, including the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Meeting CMAG, which last met on 24 March 2021. The UK Commonwealth Envoy regularly takes part in meetings with the Secretary-General, in his capacity as a Governor of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The policy on the up-rating of UK State Pensions paid to recipients living in a Commonwealth country is clear and is a long-standing policy of successive post-war Governments that has been in place for over 70 years. The annual index-linked increases are paid to UK State Pension recipients where there is a legal requirement to do so. For example, where UK State Pension recipients are living in countries where there is a reciprocal agreement that provides for the uprating of the UK State Pension. The Government has no plans to change this policy.

Her Majesty’s Government will be represented at the 12th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting, which is an important meeting in the run up to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda. We look forward to exploring how the Commonwealth can continue to work together to promote gender equality and ensure the empowerment of women and girls.