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Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee

7th Report - Global Britain and the 2018 Commonwealth Summit

HC 831 Published 5 April 2018

Foreign Affairs Committee The Commonwealth Summit inquiry Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glanceGovernment response published 13 July 2018

The government's response

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government 'takes note' of the Committee's report, agreeing with some recommendations, concluding against an online Commonwealth news channel, and setting out priorities and commitments for the UK's period as Chair-in-Office.

  • On the Chair-in-Office, it sets out priorities (including the Cyber Declaration, plastic pollution, girls' education, intra-Commonwealth trade and malaria) and says the FCO "will be pleased to give the Committee a mid-term account of progress in April 2019".
  • On the proposed online Commonwealth news channel, the FCO says it "considered carefully" but "concluded that it would not" be an effective way to showcase the Commonwealth, citing disproportionate cost and a limited audience.
  • On a new forum for legal practitioners, it "agrees" that practical co-operation is of great benefit but believes "sufficient fora are already in place".
  • On resources, it says it will open nine new missions in Commonwealth countries, expanding the network from 38 to 47 members, and that future Secretariat funding post-2020 "will depend on progress" on performance, efficiency and reform.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

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