Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure human rights provisions on freedom of religion or belief have been included in the Free Trade Agreement with India.

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Having secure and growing trading relationships can increase UK influence and help us to have open conversations with partners on a range of issues, including human rights.

Trade agreements are just one lever in our trade policy toolkit and are generally not the most effective mechanism for promoting human rights.

The British High Commission in New Delhi and our network across India track human rights across the country. We engage Indian stakeholders on a range of human rights matters, working with Union and State Governments, and with civil society.