To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish the details of the agreement with the government of the Republic of Ireland to provide security for the EU Defence summit in County Wicklow in August.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish the details of the agreement with the government of the Republic of Ireland to provide security for the EU Defence summit in County Wicklow in August.

Tabled by

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale

To ask His Majesty’s Government what objectives they have set for the G20 summit in 2027.

Tabled by

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale

To ask His Majesty’s Government what objectives they have set for the G20 summit in 2027.

I beg leave to ask the Question standing in the name of my noble friend.

I beg leave to ask the Question standing in the name of my noble friend.

My Lords, the process for determining the UK G20 presidency objectives is under way. Next year’s presidency is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate effective UK international leadership and reinforce global economic stability, which is essential for working people in the UK. In the near term, our focus is on engaging with the US G20 presidency ahead of the Miami summit in December. In line with standard practice, we will communicate our objectives following the Miami summit.

My Lords, the process for determining the UK G20 presidency objectives is under way. Next year’s presidency is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate effective UK international leadership and reinforce global economic stability, which is essential for working people in the UK. In the near term, our focus is on engaging with the US G20 presidency ahead of the Miami summit in December. In line with standard practice, we will communicate our objectives following the Miami summit.

I thank my noble friend for her Answer. Could she say what we will be looking at in particular around the rights of women and their needs?

I thank my noble friend for her Answer. Could she say what we will be looking at in particular around the rights of women and their needs?

The UK is very committed to the rights of women and to addressing this issue on an international level. However, the process for determining the UK G20 presidency policy agenda is currently under way. In the near term, our focus is on engaging with the US G20 presidency ahead of the

Miami summit in December. In line with standard practice, we will communicate our policy priorities following the Miami summit.

The UK is very committed to the rights of women and to addressing this issue on an international level. However, the process for determining the UK G20 presidency policy agenda is currently under way. In the near term, our focus is on engaging with the US G20 presidency ahead of the

Miami summit in December. In line with standard practice, we will communicate our policy priorities following the Miami summit.

Could the Minister tell us what progress the Government are aiming to secure at the G20 summit on tackling international fraud and, in particular, bringing greater transparency over who really owns and benefits from offshore companies, especially in the light of the decision of the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands to implement only a legitimate interest, rather than a full public access, register of beneficial interests?

Could the Minister tell us what progress the Government are aiming to secure at the G20 summit on tackling international fraud and, in particular, bringing greater transparency over who really owns and benefits from offshore companies, especially in the light of the decision of the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands to implement only a legitimate interest, rather than a full public access, register of beneficial interests?

I am pleased to report that the noble Lord, Lord Hanson, is leading a summit on this issue. I am happy to write to the noble Lord with further details.

I am pleased to report that the noble Lord, Lord Hanson, is leading a summit on this issue. I am happy to write to the noble Lord with further details.

My Lords, can the Minister tell us what priority will be given during the G20 summit to the nearly 120 million people who are displaced in the world today, and in particular whether the war in Sudan, which has led to another 12 million displaced people, will be discussed?

My Lords, can the Minister tell us what priority will be given during the G20 summit to the nearly 120 million people who are displaced in the world today, and in particular whether the war in Sudan, which has led to another 12 million displaced people, will be discussed?

The Government are doing as much as they can on the issue that the noble Lord raises. It has been a priority of this Government since we came into office.

The Government are doing as much as they can on the issue that the noble Lord raises. It has been a priority of this Government since we came into office.

My Lords, I got the message from the Minister that she is not able to tell us what is going to be on the Government’s list on priorities, so can I just make a suggestion? All I am asking is that she will at least say she will go away and consider it. Given the leadership we have demonstrated since 2023 on artificial intelligence, and the global respect for the AI Security Institute, this would be a great opportunity for the UK to show international leadership on regulating AI globally. I urge the Minister to think about that as we put our policy objectives together.

My Lords, I got the message from the Minister that she is not able to tell us what is going to be on the Government’s list on priorities, so can I just make a suggestion? All I am asking is that she will at least say she will go away and consider it. Given the leadership we have demonstrated since 2023 on artificial intelligence, and the global respect for the AI Security Institute, this would be a great opportunity for the UK to show international leadership on regulating AI globally. I urge the Minister to think about that as we put our policy objectives together.

I am very happy to take the noble Lord’s suggestion away. As he will be aware from the debate we had on this earlier in the week, the UK is already demonstrating international leadership on this issue. We are considering all policy areas, particularly those on which we can show considerable international leadership.

I am very happy to take the noble Lord’s suggestion away. As he will be aware from the debate we had on this earlier in the week, the UK is already demonstrating international leadership on this issue. We are considering all policy areas, particularly those on which we can show considerable international leadership.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, is taking part remotely; I invite him to speak.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, is taking part remotely; I invite him to speak.

My Lords, with the whole G20 economic agenda being overshadowed by the prospect of escalating conflict worldwide, are we not uniquely placed, with our Foreign Office’s substantial hinterland of expertise in diplomacy, to help reduce turmoil in the world by acting as brokers in the resolution of conflict? Why not develop, as an objective, a new peace agenda? We could start with at least considering proposals as set out on Tuesday during the Statement on Ukraine. Let the Labour Government lead the way on these matters.

My Lords, with the whole G20 economic agenda being overshadowed by the prospect of escalating conflict worldwide, are we not uniquely placed, with our Foreign Office’s substantial hinterland of expertise in diplomacy, to help reduce turmoil in the world by acting as brokers in the resolution of conflict? Why not develop, as an objective, a new peace agenda? We could start with at least considering proposals as set out on Tuesday during the Statement on Ukraine. Let the Labour Government lead the way on these matters.

My noble friend will not be surprised to hear me say that we continue to steadfastly condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In relation to peace across the globe, we continue to work through international fora, such as the UN, on agendas around peace.

My noble friend will not be surprised to hear me say that we continue to steadfastly condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In relation to peace across the globe, we continue to work through international fora, such as the UN, on agendas around peace.

My Lords, climate change is a world problem. Where is that going to stand on the agenda, or is it, in fact, going to be threaded through virtually every topic, as it affects every area of our life and security?

My Lords, climate change is a world problem. Where is that going to stand on the agenda, or is it, in fact, going to be threaded through virtually every topic, as it affects every area of our life and security?

I agree with the noble Baroness that the issues relating to climate change should be threaded through all our discussions on an international scale. I am happy to feed that back with other issues that noble Lords wish to raise on the policy agendas that are currently being worked through. We will report back on the overall presidency policy agenda in due course.

I agree with the noble Baroness that the issues relating to climate change should be threaded through all our discussions on an international scale. I am happy to feed that back with other issues that noble Lords wish to raise on the policy agendas that are currently being worked through. We will report back on the overall presidency policy agenda in due course.

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the UK presidency of the G20 is a historic opportunity for action on debt? Will she consider the call to champion changes to the common framework laid out in the African Union’s common African position on debt?

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the UK presidency of the G20 is a historic opportunity for action on debt? Will she consider the call to champion changes to the common framework laid out in the African Union’s common African position on debt?

The UK already has an existing ask of other countries in relation to strengthening the G20 common framework. I will feed back the suggestion, as with other suggestions from noble Lords.

The UK already has an existing ask of other countries in relation to strengthening the G20 common framework. I will feed back the suggestion, as with other suggestions from noble Lords.

My Lords, further to the question from the noble Lord, Lord Alton, the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, in Sudan, was not mentioned in the Government’s agenda for the G20 presidency. Surely, as the UN Security Council penholder for the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, we will raise this. What are our ambitions in the G20 presidency for that crisis?

My Lords, further to the question from the noble Lord, Lord Alton, the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, in Sudan, was not mentioned in the Government’s agenda for the G20 presidency. Surely, as the UN Security Council penholder for the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, we will raise this. What are our ambitions in the G20 presidency for that crisis?