Recommendation 6

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

5.1 We disagree with the Committee’s characterisation of the UK’s international policy. It is not adrift. We have shown global leadership this year where values have come under attack in Hong Kong and Belarus. The UK imposed landmark sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko, his son and senior figures in the Belarusian government under the UK’s new human rights sanctions regime in response to the torture and mistreatment of hundreds of peaceful protestors in custody. Our new Magnitsky sanctions regime and our campaigns for media freedom and the protection of journalists, and freedom of religious beliefs show we are a force for good around the world. We have also been working to secure the best possible deal with the EU as we come to the end of the transition period. We are also preparing for our G7 Presidency to host the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, and to co-host the Global Partnership for Education replenishment conference in partnership with Kenya. 5.2 In response to COVID-19 the UK has led global efforts to leverage international development finance that supports developing countries to manage the impact of the COVID-19 downturn, including debt sustainability, to build global stability and resilience. We rapidly pivoted our 2020 ODA programming towards humanitarian relief and global health security; and in November 2020 the Foreign Secretary set out a new approach to managing all ODA. We have repatriated over 38,000 people from 57 countries, kept supply chains open, and raised $8.8 billion for Gavi through our hosting of the Global Vaccine Summit. We are a leading supporter of CEPI and the largest funder of the COVAX Advance Market Commitment. 5.3 In addition to our actions on the global stage, the creation of the FCDO and its Global Network Uplift programme is a visible demonstration of our commitment to engage globally, and the biggest investment in the diplomatic network for decades. In 2019 the then FCO established 10 new Posts – including a High Commission in the Maldives, a mission to ASEAN in Jakarta and a Resident Commissioner in Antigua & Barbuda – and added over 1,000 new staff positions in the UK and overseas. This uplift enables us to deliver greater political engagement with other G20 members, rising powers, and new partners; and will bolster our impact in working alongside historic partners, such as the Commonwealth and, in particular, our friends and allies across Europe.