Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ranil Jayawardena and Andrea Jenkyns

Tuesday 15th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Ranil Jayawardena (North East Hampshire) (Con)]

3. What steps his Department is taking to strengthen UK diplomatic relations with Commonwealth countries.

[Andrea Jenkyns (Morley and Outwood) (Con)]

22. What steps his Department is taking to strengthen bilateral relations with Commonwealth countries.

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson)]

During the recent Heads of Government meeting at the Commonwealth summit, we announced the opening of nine new missions, to great acclaim throughout the Commonwealth. They include six high commissions in Lesotho, Swaziland, the Bahamas, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu. As I have told the House before, we are expanding the UK diplomatic network to become the biggest in Europe.