Foreign Affairs and International Development

Chris Bryant Excerpts

Tuesday 15th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hague]

It would extend my speech probably too much if I were to go into all those countries, but when I arrived in Australia it was surprising to find that no Foreign Secretary of the Labour Government had visited the country during their entire 13 years in office. I give that as an example.

[Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)]

Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?

[Mr Hague]

I said “Foreign Secretary”, not Foreign Office Minister.

[Chris Bryant]

But will he allow me?

[Mr Hague]

No, not at the moment. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] I will later.

In Asia we are reopening Britain’s embassy in Laos—

[Chris Bryant]

Is it later now?

[Mr Hague]

No, I will proceed for a moment.

In Asia we are reopening our embassy in Laos, which will mean that we are one of only three EU member states with diplomatic representation in every single Association of Southeast Asian Nations country; and we intend to open a new British interest office in Burma, in Naypyidaw.

It is vital that we develop a strong, frank and open partnership with China, reflecting our growing shared interests and our support for China’s continued economic success and more active leadership in addressing global issues. Where we differ, such as on human rights, it is vital that we continue our dialogue, so by 2015 we will have an additional consulate, 60 more staff and 40% more Chinese language speakers in our posts in China.

--- Later in debate ---

[Chris Bryant]

Will the Foreign Secretary give way?

[Mr Hague]

I am just coming to the India point, and then I will give way to the hon. Gentleman.

Given the growing importance of our relations with India, I can announce today that we have secured the agreement of the Indian Government to open new deputy high commissions in the important cities of Hyderabad and Chandigarh. That will bring the number of our diplomatic posts in India to seven and mean that Britain has the most extensive diplomatic network in India of any diplomatic service in the world. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will want to explain why those things did not happen when he was at the Foreign Office.

[Chris Bryant]

I do not know whether the Foreign Secretary has been to Vientiane yet, but I have. [Interruption.] It is in Laos.

[Mr Hague]

I know where it is.

[Chris Bryant]

Oh, good. You seemed to be asking somebody.

I want to return the Foreign Secretary to the subject of Colombia. He will know that many people in all parts of the House have profound concerns about human rights issues in that country. The EU is in the process of agreeing a free trade agreement with Colombia. When does he expect that this House will have a right to vote on that ratification?

[Mr Hague]

I know where the country is that the hon. Gentleman was first talking about; I have just announced the reopening of an embassy there. He visited that country without increasing our diplomatic representation; I have done so without visiting it.

On Colombia, yes, there continues to be human rights work to do there. The commitment of the President of Colombia to make further progress on human rights is, I think, very genuine and should be warmly received in this House. I believe that there will be strong support in this House for free trade agreements being extended across the rest of the world, including with Colombia. It is not our normal practice in the House to vote on such things, but of course there is no reason why a vote cannot be created on such an issue, particularly given the rights of Back Benchers to bring about votes. I will look at the point that the hon. Gentleman raises.

[Chris Bryant]

Will the Foreign Secretary give way?

[Mr Hague]

No, I think that we have dealt with that point.