Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of private organisations in the (a) UK and (b) Commonwealth nations that campaign for improved political and economic relations between the UK and the Commonwealth nations.

The UK acknowledges the valuable role that the 86 Commonwealth accredited and associated organisations play in promoting Commonwealth values and principles and in fostering collaboration across the Commonwealth on a wide range of issues, including improved political and economic relations between member states. The Commonwealth Secretariat leads on the accreditation process for these organisations as well as evaluation of their activity.