Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to build closer social and economic ties between the UK and other Commonwealth countries, in particular Canada, Australia and New Zealand, after Brexit.

The UK is committed to working with the three pillars of the Commonwealth – the Secretariat, its member states, and its civil society organisations and networks - to build closer social and economic ties. We were particularly pleased to host Commonwealth partners, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, at the sixth Commonwealth Trade Ministers' Meeting in London last October. The meeting reaffirmed our shared commitment to deepening trade and investment ties across the Commonwealth, including through our plans for Free Trade Agreements following our departure from the EU. Canada, Australia and New Zealand are close and natural partners based on our shared history and values. These are invaluable relationships for the UK, which are further strengthened through our Commonwealth cooperation.