Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to strengthen relations and cultural exchange between the UK and (a) New Zealand, (b) Canada and (c) Australia.

The UK has strong relations with New Zealand, Canada and Australia through our modern partnerships built on shared values and history. These partnerships are reinforced by close friendship, prosperity, people-to-people links, commonwealth membership and cultural exchange. The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with their counterparts in New Zealand, Canada and Australia, and has spoken to each of them in the last month. One example of the close cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections we share with these countries is the UK/Australia Season. Minister Adams spoke at the season launch event on 1 September at the British Museum, where he welcomed a joint British Council / Australian Government project that highlights our shared history and culture while reflecting on modern Britain and Australia.