President Sisi: Visit

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2015 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, the noble Lord has mentioned a number of different areas which are a little wide of the subject of this Question. We want to see more progress in Egypt, including better protection of Egyptians’ constitutional rights and freedom of expression, along with more space for NGOs and civil society, all of which are key to long-term stability. Our relationship with Egypt lets us raise these issues, and Ministers and officials regularly do so. The President’s forthcoming visit is a further opportunity to raise issues of concern.

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD)]

My Lords, the Minister has said twice that we are going to discuss political progress with President al-Sisi, and I think many of us would agree that Egypt will be stable only if it allows political progress to be made. Can he tell us what sort of political progress for Egypt we have in mind?

[The Earl of Courtown]

A number of issues have been raised by Peers around the House and we want to see progress on all of them.