To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to improve EU-Commonwealth relations; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to improve EU-Commonwealth relations; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of EU aid to Commonwealth countries was in each of the last five years; and what proportion was attributable to the UK in each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total amount of EU aid to Commonwealth countries was in each of the last five years; and what proportion was attributable to the UK in each year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits from the new Commonwealth have applied to have their (a) spouse and (b) children join them in the UK in each of the last five years; and how many have applied for British citizenship since becoming members of the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits from the new Commonwealth have applied to have their (a) spouse and (b) children join them in the UK in each of the last five years; and how many have applied for British citizenship since becoming members of the...

My hon. Friend successfully had a guess at my response. If Ireland were to choose to apply to join the Commonwealth, it would have much to contribute in the ways that he has said: its skill and expertise in diplomatic arenas and the way in which it is outward-facing and...

My hon. Friend successfully had a guess at my response. If Ireland were to choose to apply to join the Commonwealth, it would have much to contribute in the ways that he has said: its skill and expertise in diplomatic arenas and the way in which it is outward-facing and...

Of course that may be appropriate. My hon. Friend is not being a nuisance; having spent five years with him on that rooftop I can say that on some occasions he was a nuisance, but not today. But in trying to offer him hope on that specific point I say...

Of course that may be appropriate. My hon. Friend is not being a nuisance; having spent five years with him on that rooftop I can say that on some occasions he was a nuisance, but not today. But in trying to offer him hope on that specific point I say...

I am sorry to be a nuisance, but I said that I hoped my hon. Friend would discuss the matter with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other players in the Commonwealth, because it might be appropriate for them to take the initiative.

I am sorry to be a nuisance, but I said that I hoped my hon. Friend would discuss the matter with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other players in the Commonwealth, because it might be appropriate for them to take the initiative.

We spent many long evenings talking about many different issues. If only I had known about his interest in and passion for this subject, it would have saved us a huge number of other less riveting debates and conversations on which we were unable to find any great unanimity. My...

We spent many long evenings talking about many different issues. If only I had known about his interest in and passion for this subject, it would have saved us a huge number of other less riveting debates and conversations on which we were unable to find any great unanimity. My...

I assume that the answer to this question will be ““yes””. Would my hon. Friend the Minister welcome Ireland’s interest in returning to the Commonwealth, or taking up its seat in the Commonwealth, as I do not actually accept that it left?

I assume that the answer to this question will be ““yes””. Would my hon. Friend the Minister welcome Ireland’s interest in returning to the Commonwealth, or taking up its seat in the Commonwealth, as I do not actually accept that it left?

You’ve done better than me, though. [Laughter.]

You’ve done better than me, though. [Laughter.]

I am delighted to appear before you, Mr. Hood, for the second time today on a matter of great importance to the House. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) not only on securing the debate, but, more significantly, on the way in which he made...

I am delighted to appear before you, Mr. Hood, for the second time today on a matter of great importance to the House. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) not only on securing the debate, but, more significantly, on the way in which he made...

I am pleased to initiate this debate on Ireland’s membership of the Commonwealth—a business that stands deferred since April 1949. As I hope to demonstrate in the next few minutes, ministerial responsibility has been involved. You, Mr. Hood, and I are proud of the Commonwealth, which has 53 sovereign, independent...

I am pleased to initiate this debate on Ireland’s membership of the Commonwealth—a business that stands deferred since April 1949. As I hope to demonstrate in the next few minutes, ministerial responsibility has been involved. You, Mr. Hood, and I are proud of the Commonwealth, which has 53 sovereign, independent...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Republic of Ireland and the Commonwealth.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Republic of Ireland and the Commonwealth.

My Lords, I shall obey the admonition of the noble Lord, Lord Blaker, but I want to add the best wishes of these Benches to the noble Baroness in her new position as a Minister and wish her well in all that she undertakes. It was as long ago as...

My Lords, I shall obey the admonition of the noble Lord, Lord Blaker, but I want to add the best wishes of these Benches to the noble Baroness in her new position as a Minister and wish her well in all that she undertakes. It was as long ago as...

rose to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will clarify their policy towards the Commonwealth ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in November 2007. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I am delighted to have this opportunity—at long last, I might say—to explore the Government’s approach...

rose to ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will clarify their policy towards the Commonwealth ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in November 2007. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I am delighted to have this opportunity—at long last, I might say—to explore the Government’s approach...

My Lords, while I was waiting rather impatiently for this great debate tonight I was having a pea and ham soup with Martha in the Bishop’s Bar and we were saying that it is funny that the Ethiopian flag and the Jamaican flag are the same. I got out my...

My Lords, while I was waiting rather impatiently for this great debate tonight I was having a pea and ham soup with Martha in the Bishop’s Bar and we were saying that it is funny that the Ethiopian flag and the Jamaican flag are the same. I got out my...

My Lords, I start by expressing my gratitude to Members from all parts of the House for the warmth of their welcome since I have joined and their kind words during this debate. Your Lordships’ advice and support has helped me immensely, as I continue to adjust to my new...

My Lords, I start by expressing my gratitude to Members from all parts of the House for the warmth of their welcome since I have joined and their kind words during this debate. Your Lordships’ advice and support has helped me immensely, as I continue to adjust to my new...

Lords question for short debate on whether they will clarify their policy towards the Commonwealth ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in November 2007.

Lords question for short debate on whether they will clarify their policy towards the Commonwealth ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda in November 2007.

My Lords, with the forbearance of the House, on behalf of your Lordships I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Vadera, on not only an excellent but a delightful maiden speech. Her speech and her experience show that she is highly suited to her new ministerial job in the Department for...

My Lords, with the forbearance of the House, on behalf of your Lordships I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Vadera, on not only an excellent but a delightful maiden speech. Her speech and her experience show that she is highly suited to her new ministerial job in the Department for...

My Lords, I reiterate the thanks of the House to the noble Lord, Lord Luce, for introducing this subject. Here we are, compressing the mighty subject of the Commonwealth into three minutes. That might have depressed me until I heard the noble Lord, Lord Selsdon, whose capacity to compress so...

My Lords, I reiterate the thanks of the House to the noble Lord, Lord Luce, for introducing this subject. Here we are, compressing the mighty subject of the Commonwealth into three minutes. That might have depressed me until I heard the noble Lord, Lord Selsdon, whose capacity to compress so...

My Lords, noble Lords will see that I am speaking from the Labour Benches for the first time. I take this opportunity to thank the Convenors of the Cross Benches, first the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig of Radley, and now the noble Lord, Lord Williamson of Horton, and...

My Lords, noble Lords will see that I am speaking from the Labour Benches for the first time. I take this opportunity to thank the Convenors of the Cross Benches, first the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Craig of Radley, and now the noble Lord, Lord Williamson of Horton, and...