Commonwealth

:00:08. > :00:14.There's going to be created by Brexit and our ideas will be

:00:15. > :00:19.preliminary and incomplete. However I decided to speak in this debate

:00:20. > :00:25.because I feel it is valuable to identify possibilities were doing

:00:26. > :00:34.this by spending our interactions with the Commonwealth, even if, as

:00:35. > :00:38.pointed out, the EU and Commonwealth are quite different constructs. I

:00:39. > :00:44.will focus on what we might do narrowly with Australia but what I

:00:45. > :00:49.will say applies equally to other developed Commonwealth countries and

:00:50. > :00:53.I apologise for this narrowness but the breadth of the Commonwealth has

:00:54. > :00:58.been talked about a great deal. I grew up in Australia and while I

:00:59. > :01:04.have not lived there for almost 60 years, I have over the past 20 years

:01:05. > :01:08.been involved in a number of activities, especially in Melbourne.

:01:09. > :01:12.To declare an interest, I was for several years a member of the

:01:13. > :01:19.Melbourne University Council have been a member of the advisory boards

:01:20. > :01:24.of the Melbourne Energy Institute and held a visiting professorship

:01:25. > :01:29.for the past six years and this year I am acting as a consultant in the

:01:30. > :01:37.Commonwealth scientific and industrial research organisation.

:01:38. > :01:41.They are a 6000 person agency, deciding scientific research in

:01:42. > :01:45.Australia. Its chief role is to improve the economic and social

:01:46. > :01:50.performance of industry for the benefit of the community. I have

:01:51. > :01:57.also chaired an advisory council for new horizons, the $400 million

:01:58. > :02:03.Government funded collaboration between two institutions. I have

:02:04. > :02:08.been involved in a broad spectrum of activities both in academia and

:02:09. > :02:14.industry and it is my observation there is considerable potential for

:02:15. > :02:18.increased interaction with the UK. Put another way, there is very

:02:19. > :02:24.little interaction with the UK. I have also been nonexecutive

:02:25. > :02:29.president of the Australian Music Foundation, happened in my youth

:02:30. > :02:37.been a singer and healthy coral, -- scholarship at Cambridge. There is a

:02:38. > :02:41.charity that helps highly talented young Australian musicians further

:02:42. > :02:47.the study in carriers, especially in the UK. It has limited resources but

:02:48. > :02:53.accomplishes a great deal although it leaves a large reservoir of

:02:54. > :02:56.untapped potential. Showing the potential for increased exchanges

:02:57. > :03:03.spans cultures. My Lords, since the middle of the 19th century there

:03:04. > :03:06.have been expensive interchanges between universities in the UK and

:03:07. > :03:10.Australia and the oldest universities were largely based on

:03:11. > :03:14.British universities. These exchanges spread into the 20th

:03:15. > :03:21.century to the resurgence in Government and industrial... It is

:03:22. > :03:24.an understatement to say that is a special relationship between

:03:25. > :03:30.Australia and Britain. It is my view, having lived around the world,

:03:31. > :03:35.and longest in the United States, that the culture of Australia is

:03:36. > :03:39.closer to that of the UK than to that of any other country in the

:03:40. > :03:48.world. I have not even mention cricket. This relationship have been

:03:49. > :03:52.sustained despite the UK... There is little doubt educational and

:03:53. > :03:55.academic and industrial research exchanges would have grown more of

:03:56. > :04:01.the Commonwealth and especially Australia over the past 44 years if

:04:02. > :04:07.the UK had not join the EU. This is also the case more generally with

:04:08. > :04:12.trade, as has been pointed out by many noble lords. Now is the

:04:13. > :04:16.opportunity to take another look at how we can expand our educational,

:04:17. > :04:22.industrial and cultural exchanges with Australia. We cannot attract

:04:23. > :04:26.more students to our higher education institutions, enhance our

:04:27. > :04:29.research-based by attracting more postdoctoral researchers and tap

:04:30. > :04:35.into Astoria's rapidly increasing industrial educational interactions

:04:36. > :04:41.with China and India. Australia is broadly in the same time zone as

:04:42. > :04:45.China and is taking advantage of this with rapidly expanding its

:04:46. > :04:48.interactions with Chinese industry and educational institutions. I know

:04:49. > :04:54.several Americans who've moved to Australia because of its proximity

:04:55. > :04:59.to China, which makes it so much easier to pursue their Chinese

:05:00. > :05:05.interests. Areas of scientific interest where we have similar names

:05:06. > :05:08.to Australia, ranging from the square kilometre array,

:05:09. > :05:12.biotechnology and medical advances. Melbourne is regarded as one of the

:05:13. > :05:18.world's top biotechnology hops, having produced the first cochlear

:05:19. > :05:24.implant which was invented by Professor Graham Clark in Melbourne

:05:25. > :05:28.in 1979. There are world class and within projects and bionic eyes and

:05:29. > :05:32.x-ray imaging, to name just two research areas. Next week at the

:05:33. > :05:40.all-party parliamentary engineering group that I co-chair we are

:05:41. > :05:45.debating medical imaging of three remarkable engineers and scientists

:05:46. > :05:48.from the trick, Cambridge and Melbourne. These researchers all

:05:49. > :05:53.know each other well but do not collaborate directly. There is great

:05:54. > :05:57.potential for increasing research collaboration with Australia,

:05:58. > :06:03.perhaps through joint ventures with joint funding. There are many

:06:04. > :06:07.schemes that support student exchanges with Australia but there

:06:08. > :06:14.is potential for expansion, in fact, some of these exchanges now receive

:06:15. > :06:20.less support from the UK Government than they did as money was withdrawn

:06:21. > :06:26.several years ago. We should look into how we can expand our exchanges

:06:27. > :06:30.to make up for the reduction of an overseas student applications we are

:06:31. > :06:39.already seeing as you look shift its attentions away from the UK. -- as

:06:40. > :06:43.Europe shifts. Joint adventures in the Chinese market and another

:06:44. > :06:47.possibility. High technology advances might be better brought to

:06:48. > :06:50.far Eastern markets through collaboration with Australian

:06:51. > :06:54.companies rather than trying to do it directly and ending up having to

:06:55. > :06:59.compete with these companies. In conclusion, I believe this is a time

:07:00. > :07:01.to renew and expand our academic and industrial interactions with

:07:02. > :07:07.Commonwealth countries and especially with Australia and the

:07:08. > :07:16.Commonwealth heads of Government meeting in 2008 provides an ideal

:07:17. > :07:19.opportunity to do this. -- 2018. My Lords, in many ways the present

:07:20. > :07:27.situation confronting the Government of the UK is similar to that

:07:28. > :07:34.confronting the Government in 1621. Then the formation of the Council of

:07:35. > :07:39.trade, and the mandate then given was to take into consideration the

:07:40. > :07:45.true causes of the decay of trade and scarcity of coin and consult the

:07:46. > :07:50.means for the removing of these inconveniences. Now, who has been a

:07:51. > :07:55.growing tendency to dismiss the growth and balance of trade as being

:07:56. > :07:59.of reduced importance to the British economy. The great board of trade

:08:00. > :08:06.exists in name alone. The Department of trade has had they want trade

:08:07. > :08:15.ignominiously -- expands from this title. -- expunged. The secretary of

:08:16. > :08:21.state for trade and is in who also helped the Board of Trade and those

:08:22. > :08:25.Cabinet ministers who have helped this job have usually been replaced

:08:26. > :08:30.with them a year or so. These and other constant changes in structure

:08:31. > :08:34.relate to the lack of continuity. This in turn has led to pick the

:08:35. > :08:36.lack of continuity. This in turn has led to bet that there's an

:08:37. > :08:41.understanding -- an understanding of the vital role a must play in the

:08:42. > :08:45.creation of economic growth and prosperity. My Lords, British

:08:46. > :08:54.international trade was historically described as export and imports and

:08:55. > :08:59.concerned mainly the export and known as a visible exports and are

:09:00. > :09:02.now replaced as trading goods. In the 1970s the importance of the

:09:03. > :09:08.growth of the service industry sector emerged as part of the

:09:09. > :09:13.decline -- as a part of replacement for the decline of the UK as a

:09:14. > :09:16.manufacturing nation. This became known as invisible exports and now

:09:17. > :09:21.has brought trade in services. My Lords, I am not sure why I'm

:09:22. > :09:28.standing here today, I think the something to do with Australia. You

:09:29. > :09:34.see, we the first... It all happen when the Scots, who -- we ran out of

:09:35. > :09:38.money and could not find enough shape to knock off and sell at

:09:39. > :09:42.market and somebody said, these sheep, the available somewhere in

:09:43. > :09:47.much better climate. We cannot remember the name of the place but

:09:48. > :09:53.it is a big ball on the map the bottom right of the chart. So we set

:09:54. > :09:58.off -- set up a shipping line and found with chilling machinery

:09:59. > :10:04.instead of just tipping emigrants out to Australia we could bring back

:10:05. > :10:09.sheep frozen. That work very well for a while until we were stuck of

:10:10. > :10:17.South Africa and the ship would not work and their work all these frozen

:10:18. > :10:21.lamb and sheep beginning to moult. With the intelligence of those of a

:10:22. > :10:26.different religion from certain religions like lamb and mutton much

:10:27. > :10:30.better so we took when I sure and allowed them to melt a bit and

:10:31. > :10:33.rather pretended but did not say anything, they had just been

:10:34. > :10:38.slaughtered because no one would believe they had come from

:10:39. > :10:41.Australia, first of all, no one knew what Australia was. This went on and

:10:42. > :10:48.we then found instead of sheep we had been taking workers, emigrants,

:10:49. > :10:54.back and I had a little moment when did not realise our family had lost

:10:55. > :10:58.the shipping line in the Tasmania straight out of the blue I got a

:10:59. > :11:08.letter from a bishop sending me a little parcel of three Stone jars I.

:11:09. > :11:12.My diving days are over, at the age of 92 but this was the last bit of

:11:13. > :11:13.kit I could find from the wreck of the ship which belong to your

:11:14. > :11:23.family. This gives me some sort of good

:11:24. > :11:26.feeling. When we come down to the practical moment of dealing with

:11:27. > :11:31.balance of trade exports and imports, the value of sterling, I

:11:32. > :11:37.presume we are talking of trade, but in many ways the situation is the

:11:38. > :11:41.same as that confronting the government in the United Kingdom in

:11:42. > :11:47.1621 at the time of the formation of the council of trade and

:11:48. > :11:52.plantations. That was the mandate driven to take into consideration

:11:53. > :11:56.the true causes of the decay of trade, scarcity of coin and to

:11:57. > :12:02.consult the means for removing of these inconveniences. I wonder why

:12:03. > :12:06.we do not teach geography at schools anymore. It seems there is a

:12:07. > :12:11.shortage in how people cannot look and read a or a map. I suffer from

:12:12. > :12:19.one really great disadvantage, I love charts. When I joined the house

:12:20. > :12:23.sign I was unimportant, I did not realise how unimportant until they

:12:24. > :12:26.were summoned and asked in the nationalisation of the shipbuilding

:12:27. > :12:28.industry because my family were associated with ships and I must

:12:29. > :12:35.know something about it would I please speak? I did rather nervously

:12:36. > :12:38.and the Department for Transport very kindly came to see me

:12:39. > :12:45.afterwards and said we would like to invite you for a drink and to give a

:12:46. > :12:50.bit of donation. I went to see them and they pulled out a long sort of

:12:51. > :12:55.box and on it was a, a rolled up chart, with lots of red on it, all

:12:56. > :13:00.over the place, and it had little black dots as well, and those little

:13:01. > :13:08.black dots I was told were British ships at sea or in a harbour. This

:13:09. > :13:12.was effectively, the grid was British, and this is where we were

:13:13. > :13:21.right around the world, and I found was amazing that a bad time it

:13:22. > :13:27.happened and we forgot our shipping. If we bothered to say what can we

:13:28. > :13:38.all do to help, the relationships with the Commonwealth are pretty

:13:39. > :13:41.good and if it is the same situation confronting the government in 1621

:13:42. > :13:46.at the time of the formation of the council of trade, that mandate was

:13:47. > :13:51.to take into consideration the true causes of the key of trade and

:13:52. > :13:55.scarcity of coin and to consult the means for removing these

:13:56. > :14:01.inconveniences. I am a great fan of the Commonwealth. I was wanted to be

:14:02. > :14:08.a good cricketer. I wasn't. I was the wicketkeeper. I found that that

:14:09. > :14:11.pays you back pretty hard 25 years later when you find you cannot

:14:12. > :14:18.really work cause your joints have gone. Then a bright Australian

:14:19. > :14:23.surgeon comes and says we will give you a new me, it is not difficult

:14:24. > :14:31.these days. I in the difficult position of wondering whether I

:14:32. > :14:42.should sit down and think about my knee. . There can be no greater

:14:43. > :14:45.spectacle than the sight of the Commonwealth nations flowing down

:14:46. > :14:48.Westminster Abbey carried by 52 young people each carrying their

:14:49. > :14:55.country's flag. That is what I think. On this there Commonwealth

:14:56. > :15:01.Bay, their youth, enthusiasm, sense of expectation, underlines both the

:15:02. > :15:08.diversity and the unity of this there Commonwealth of Nations. The

:15:09. > :15:10.new Secretary General of the Commonwealth Baroness Scotland was

:15:11. > :15:17.absolutely right to recall Her Majesty The Queen's observation

:15:18. > :15:20.during her silver jubilee in 1977 that her role as head of the

:15:21. > :15:29.Commonwealth represents and I quote, transformation of the Crown from an

:15:30. > :15:36.emblem of Dominion into a symbol of free and voluntary association. In

:15:37. > :15:41.all history this has no precedent. Quoting further from the minister's

:15:42. > :15:45.reference book to Commonwealth week, a sense of continuity and building

:15:46. > :15:51.on the best of what we hold in common in able so as to flourish as

:15:52. > :15:57.a powerful influence for good. The exchange of ideas as well as trade

:15:58. > :16:01.are the lifeblood of Commonwealth connection. Acting early to prevent

:16:02. > :16:06.violent extremism have to be one of the Commonwealth's top priorities by

:16:07. > :16:10.offering support to strengthen and stabilise national institutions the

:16:11. > :16:15.Commonwealth can be a steadying anchor in these turbulent times. I

:16:16. > :16:21.should declare an interest. I have been a member or officer of the

:16:22. > :16:27.common for some years and I am currently the chairman of the

:16:28. > :16:35.Commonwealth forum for the Liberal club. In the forum to meet held in

:16:36. > :16:39.April next year, we will find ourselves pretty well have way

:16:40. > :16:46.through the UK's Brexit negotiations with the EU. The perceived wisdom is

:16:47. > :16:50.we will be forming a picture as to what degree the revival of longer

:16:51. > :16:54.collected trading links with the Commonwealth will be feasible.

:16:55. > :16:59.Whether they can provide an essential push against the impact of

:17:00. > :17:05.loss of preferential trade within the EU in 2019. The Commonwealth

:17:06. > :17:10.trade committee's report of Commons last week on UK trade options

:17:11. > :17:15.post-2019 provides interesting insights. 52 Commonwealth nations

:17:16. > :17:25.ranging from developed to emerge into developing present an array of

:17:26. > :17:29.trade options. A sanitary factors is the marked decline in UK exports to

:17:30. > :17:34.the Commonwealth that have occurred since the UK join the EU more than

:17:35. > :17:37.40 years ago. Anyone who has ever been involved in international

:17:38. > :17:42.business development can tell you it takes years to build customer

:17:43. > :17:48.confidence, trust and loyalty, and even longer to restore it when it is

:17:49. > :17:54.lost. I well recall as a director for the UK international engineering

:17:55. > :17:58.practice working in Malaysia the impact of a UK Government's

:17:59. > :18:00.introducing a university fee structure for Commonwealth students

:18:01. > :18:08.which doubled their costs compared to UK students. -- trouble. The USA

:18:09. > :18:12.and Australia are almost immediately think nothing can be increased the

:18:13. > :18:17.number of scholarship university Lacey is offered to Commonwealth

:18:18. > :18:23.students and the Prime Minister of Malaysia issued an edict to the

:18:24. > :18:29.public and private sector of his country to their procurement

:18:30. > :18:33.managers like to buy British last. The director of the Malaysian supply

:18:34. > :18:37.department reminisced with me over the wonderful times he had spent

:18:38. > :18:39.reading engineering at Glasgow University and how he had followed

:18:40. > :18:43.the producers and some specifications and equipment and

:18:44. > :18:48.therefore bought Bridget goods and services throughout his professional

:18:49. > :18:53.life. I doubt very much his successors have followed his example

:18:54. > :18:57.particularly as many struggle to get a UK student Visa let alone

:18:58. > :19:02.assistance to attend a UK university. According to the

:19:03. > :19:07.Commonwealth Secretariat Brexit is likely to have far reaching

:19:08. > :19:13.implications. Trade with the UK from the Commonwealth has been governed

:19:14. > :19:16.through EU policies. Under Brexit exporters concerned that market

:19:17. > :19:25.access into the UK and Europe could be disrupted. Brexit may also have

:19:26. > :19:30.implications to take advantage of the apparent 19% Commonwealth trade

:19:31. > :19:34.cost discount. Enhanced co-operation will also enable the Commonwealth to

:19:35. > :19:40.be an effective force for global good in pursuit of realising the

:19:41. > :19:43.sustainable development goals. There has been an unprecedented global

:19:44. > :19:51.slowdown which is threatening the efforts to build the achievements of

:19:52. > :19:54.people. There was a time for the government to play a pivotal role in

:19:55. > :19:58.making international trade and effective means of realising the

:19:59. > :20:07.sustainable development goals. Growth has slowed from 2.4% per year

:20:08. > :20:13.down to 1.7% in 2016. Since 2008 there has been a lost decade of two

:20:14. > :20:16.games which has had implications. We could find we have the slowest

:20:17. > :20:24.decade of trade expansion since World War II. The SDG is outlined in

:20:25. > :20:31.the 2013 agenda for sustainable development into reduced the amount

:20:32. > :20:37.of people living on $1.25 a day, currently 14%, down to zero. Scope

:20:38. > :20:42.to include challenges of environmental sustainability,

:20:43. > :20:48.inclusiveness, urbanisation, and strengthening global partnerships.

:20:49. > :20:53.Reviving global trade flows well mitigating the consequences of

:20:54. > :20:56.Brexit is an important issue to keep SDG implementation on track. Their

:20:57. > :21:02.UK and the EU have to work together to mitigate post Brexit risks

:21:03. > :21:08.unmarried uncertainties. By continuing the trade preferences

:21:09. > :21:15.countries currently and Rory in Europe and the UK. Isobars Flybe has

:21:16. > :21:20.pointed out in 2014 total UK exports of the Commonwealth were worth ?40

:21:21. > :21:29.billion. 9% of the UK's exports overall. UK exports to the EU

:21:30. > :21:35.amounted to around ?250 billion, five times that of the Commonwealth.

:21:36. > :21:42.That requires a huge displacement to rebalance. In the inaugural meeting

:21:43. > :21:48.last week the business unsustainability -- sustainability

:21:49. > :21:53.was identified as one of the key pillars of the agenda for growth.

:21:54. > :21:57.This was one of the areas which will contribute to greater enter

:21:58. > :22:02.Commonwealth co-operation and utilisation of the Commonwealth

:22:03. > :22:06.factor. Ministers anticipate this will unlock new trade and investment

:22:07. > :22:10.opportunities from other countries. Recent research by the business and

:22:11. > :22:16.sustainable development commission shows the SDGs will require

:22:17. > :22:22.something like US dollars 2-3,000,000,000,000 each year in new

:22:23. > :22:29.investment but can help unlock $12 trillion in new market value across

:22:30. > :22:34.XT sectors, these figures are beyond the scope of my imagination but that

:22:35. > :22:37.is what they are. It poses a number of key questions and I would be

:22:38. > :22:46.grateful if she could share with us the answers ministers arrived that.

:22:47. > :22:49.For example, do the SDGs provide a framework for businesses and

:22:50. > :22:55.government to understand the scale of the sustainability challenge we

:22:56. > :22:59.face and restore public trust to meet this challenge? What role can

:23:00. > :23:04.the Commonwealth play in raising awareness and helping governments to

:23:05. > :23:13.meet this challenge? How can private investment the best mobilised to

:23:14. > :23:14.support sustainability goals in countries where the risk assessment

:23:15. > :23:24.is out of reach? I welcome the debate and how it was

:23:25. > :23:27.introduced. Over the past ten years or more I've mainly work in Africa

:23:28. > :23:31.and come to understand the Commonwealth much better and what

:23:32. > :23:37.links we have with the Commonwealth, what a powerful voice in the world

:23:38. > :23:41.it is and could be and how important it is, particularly for the poorest

:23:42. > :23:46.countries and particularly in Africa. These points are reflected

:23:47. > :23:51.in the Commonwealth office's priorities and over the -- of the

:23:52. > :23:56.last of the commonly thought of which is about promoting human

:23:57. > :24:01.rights, democracy and the rule of law and enormous challenges in all

:24:02. > :24:11.three of these areas. I think in particular, for example, the rights

:24:12. > :24:17.of people who are ill BGP that was so eloquently discussed -- LGBT. As

:24:18. > :24:21.the UK strengthens its role in the Commonwealth it is very important it

:24:22. > :24:27.continues to speak up about these rights and to voice its concerns not

:24:28. > :24:30.only about these rights but about other human rights abuses. The

:24:31. > :24:35.fourth idiot of priority for the Foreign Commonwealth Office is

:24:36. > :24:39.about supporting sustainable -- area of priority. Issues that are

:24:40. > :24:44.important for the UK as well as other members. The final area is

:24:45. > :24:48.championing understanding within this wonderful worldwide diverse

:24:49. > :24:53.community. It is against this context I want to speak specifically

:24:54. > :24:56.about health, development and development and prosperity and the

:24:57. > :25:00.links between the three. I stress these links because too often they

:25:01. > :25:05.are treated separately but that they are intimately connected. I want to

:25:06. > :25:09.put forward the argument an emphasis on these three together should be

:25:10. > :25:15.made within the Commonwealth and feature at the heads of Government

:25:16. > :25:20.meeting next April. Doing so will contribute enormously to these wider

:25:21. > :25:24.goals. I will make three main arguments and then give a current

:25:25. > :25:30.example that is very effective and put forward a specific proposal for

:25:31. > :25:34.the future. The first argument is about the economic impact of health.

:25:35. > :25:40.This is often neglected and we think about health services as a cost and

:25:41. > :25:44.it is time we showed this assumption is wrong, there are costs and

:25:45. > :25:49.benefits from investment in health and it is true the wealthier a

:25:50. > :25:54.country is it can spend more on public services but it is equally

:25:55. > :25:57.true that good health is a driver of productivity and poor health

:25:58. > :26:02.destroys it and we need only look at the HIV AIDS echo -- epidemic in

:26:03. > :26:07.Africa to understand how that has reduced economic growth over many

:26:08. > :26:11.years with a detrimental impact throughout the southern part of the

:26:12. > :26:16.continent, at least. Equally must look at other countries where they

:26:17. > :26:23.have improved health would lead to improved productivity and economic

:26:24. > :26:26.performance. The demographic dividend, that is when children get

:26:27. > :26:29.healthier and more often survived flowers become smaller and the

:26:30. > :26:36.dependency ratio with an country produces. -- families become

:26:37. > :26:42.smaller. It is something which should be very conscious of. That is

:26:43. > :26:45.more, the recent UN commission on health, employment and economy

:26:46. > :26:51.demonstrated employing more health workers is beneficial to the

:26:52. > :26:55.economy, improving health, education and economic prospects. There is

:26:56. > :27:00.more to it than that also, health is the fastest-growing major industry

:27:01. > :27:06.in the world, 5% globally, 8% in south-east Asia and the column of

:27:07. > :27:10.countries must have their share. In the UK we know the biomedical and

:27:11. > :27:15.life sciences must be a major part of our industrial strategy. We have

:27:16. > :27:21.4800 companies in this sector turning over more than 55 billion

:27:22. > :27:24.and we heard earlier about the need to work with Australia but also

:27:25. > :27:28.other Commonwealth countries to invest and grow the sector, whether

:27:29. > :27:35.through the prosperity fund or other routes. My second argument is about

:27:36. > :27:39.links between health and other aspects of development. There is

:27:40. > :27:46.evidence in health and education are linked. We note in India girls with

:27:47. > :27:50.five years of education, their children are 40% more likely to

:27:51. > :27:57.survive to the age of five. We also know it is the other way round and

:27:58. > :28:01.ill health impact on education and opportunities. Stunting, for

:28:02. > :28:06.example, an African countries and some southern African countries

:28:07. > :28:11.about 40% of children or stunted, we know this impact on their mental

:28:12. > :28:14.development and all the achievement and subsequently on the economy and

:28:15. > :28:21.everything else. We should not see these issues are separate. Human

:28:22. > :28:31.development is essential, human flourishing. My third argument turns

:28:32. > :28:37.to the house of Lord report on soft, by Lord Howell, with emphasis on the

:28:38. > :28:42.UK being the best in the world at this and they have expanded on these

:28:43. > :28:47.ideas of the Commonwealth is a network today. Health is an

:28:48. > :28:50.extraordinary influential network, 6 million or so nurses in the

:28:51. > :28:56.Commonwealth, doctors are intimately linked with their partners in other

:28:57. > :29:00.parts of the world and there are any number of partnerships between UK

:29:01. > :29:04.institutions and health institutions in the Commonwealth. I am reminded

:29:05. > :29:08.of the importance of the health partnership scheme promoted by this

:29:09. > :29:13.Government and hope it will only continue. People care about health,

:29:14. > :29:18.the link with each other and share. Health is one of the themes that

:29:19. > :29:22.will help us have greater understanding in the Commonwealth.

:29:23. > :29:25.Investment in health provides wide-ranging economic and social

:29:26. > :29:29.benefits and the Commonwealth should see it as a priority. But they

:29:30. > :29:33.turned to my examples. The first is the current one. This is the Queen

:29:34. > :29:39.Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee trust with money raised from the Commonwealth

:29:40. > :29:44.and they have set up a an initiative of ?41 million that is being managed

:29:45. > :29:51.by sight Savers, an organisation I had the privilege to cheer at the

:29:52. > :29:57.time -- cheer at the time. It is having an extraordinary impact on

:29:58. > :30:00.Commonwealth, treating 11 million people, develop great partnerships.

:30:01. > :30:05.It benefits the poorest of the most, benefits and women the most because

:30:06. > :30:09.women are more likely to be blind, surprisingly, and it allows people

:30:10. > :30:13.suffering from disease to return to work and their carers to return to

:30:14. > :30:17.work, also. My second example for the future is

:30:18. > :30:21.to urge the Commonwealth should play a major role in a new global

:30:22. > :30:25.campaign for the development of nursing. Members of this house will

:30:26. > :30:30.well understand how vital nurses are in every country but perhaps

:30:31. > :30:34.particularly in middle income countries where they may often be

:30:35. > :30:43.the only health workers anyone sees. A recent study with the support of

:30:44. > :30:47.the Commonwealth nursing Federation and including members of your

:30:48. > :30:52.Lordship's house look at the development of nurses globally and

:30:53. > :30:56.found three important points. Firstly, universal health coverage

:30:57. > :31:00.would not be achieved without developing nurses globally, they are

:31:01. > :31:06.the largest part of the professional workforce. Secondly, nurses are very

:31:07. > :31:10.often undervalued and underutilised within the system. Perhaps because

:31:11. > :31:14.the woman or because they are not all doctors but we often train them

:31:15. > :31:20.to a high level and then in practice do not permit them to work to that

:31:21. > :31:25.same high level. Nurses could have an even more significant impact in

:31:26. > :31:31.the future. Thirdly, developing nursing will have the triple impact

:31:32. > :31:35.of not just contributing -- contributing to three of the

:31:36. > :31:37.sustainable goals, not just improving health promoting gender

:31:38. > :31:42.equality and strengthening economies. As a result of the

:31:43. > :31:49.popularity of a report from people around the world we have decided to

:31:50. > :31:52.launch global campaign to raise the profile of nursing globally, support

:31:53. > :31:57.the empowerment of women globally through employment and develop local

:31:58. > :32:00.economies. I am delighted to say the world health organisation has

:32:01. > :32:05.already given its support and we are then positive discussions with the

:32:06. > :32:07.Commonwealth, partly with the Commonwealth Secretariat and mere

:32:08. > :32:15.echo the other comments from Lord's at support Baroness Scotland and her

:32:16. > :32:19.important and very difficult role she is playing at the moment. We

:32:20. > :32:22.have also had discussions with the large number of members and all of

:32:23. > :32:28.the ministers, healthy dose in countries as far apart as Jamaica,

:32:29. > :32:32.India and Tanzania has given their support and my noble friend Baroness

:32:33. > :32:37.Watkins and I are meeting with the Commonwealth advisory committee on

:32:38. > :32:41.health next week to present this proposal and planning is underway.

:32:42. > :32:45.I'd very much hope the Government will give serious consideration to

:32:46. > :32:48.including health, development and prosperity are linked together and

:32:49. > :32:53.in particular this global campaign on nursing and future corner of the

:32:54. > :32:58.genders and at the Government -- heads of Government of Commonwealth

:32:59. > :33:02.meeting next year and asked the noble lady if she would be willing

:33:03. > :33:12.to meet with Baroness Watkins and myself to take this forward.

:33:13. > :33:18.I Lord's, I am pleased to contribute to this important debate today. I

:33:19. > :33:21.would like to thank my noble friend Baroness for introducing the subject

:33:22. > :33:28.and would like to congratulate her on the excellence of her speech. My

:33:29. > :33:35.Lords, I previously spoke in this house of my respect and admiration

:33:36. > :33:40.for the Commonwealth. Covering 52 countries and one third of the

:33:41. > :33:43.world's population it is an enduring symbol of unity. The Commonwealth is

:33:44. > :33:51.perhaps one of the world's most diverse unions, yet shares of values

:33:52. > :33:55.and democracy and the rule of law. Particularly the time when the world

:33:56. > :34:03.seems so divided we must celebrate the strength of unity and harmony. I

:34:04. > :34:08.am proud we sent High Commissioners rather than ambassadors to

:34:09. > :34:12.Commonwealth countries, as we do not regard ourselves as foreign and

:34:13. > :34:19.relation to each other. Next year the UK will host the Commonwealth

:34:20. > :34:24.heads of Government meeting, this is an opportunity for us to drive

:34:25. > :34:30.forward and ambitious and progressive agenda. The previous

:34:31. > :34:39.summit in Malta in 2015 and made a great deal of progress in areas such

:34:40. > :34:43.as climate change, peace and security and sustainable Government.

:34:44. > :34:47.Indeed, given the size and breadth of the Commonwealth it seems only

:34:48. > :34:53.natural that takes a lead in addressing some of the biggest

:34:54. > :35:02.global challenges. I say this was particularly with particular regard

:35:03. > :35:07.to our upcoming exit from the EU. We must now refocus our efforts on

:35:08. > :35:14.tackling global issues through new metrics. I would like to speak

:35:15. > :35:21.specifically about the importance of building bilateral trade

:35:22. > :35:25.relationships. In an increasing globalised world there is a great

:35:26. > :35:30.demand for bilateral trade agreements that help to build

:35:31. > :35:39.economies without sacrificing national sovereignty. We know we

:35:40. > :35:45.need to double a post Brexit trading plan as the EU acted as a

:35:46. > :35:50.protectionist block against trade of outsiders so the Commonwealth can

:35:51. > :35:54.open our trading borders to an entirely new world. The Commonwealth

:35:55. > :35:59.in itself is effectively a ready-made trading network and

:36:00. > :36:06.contains a diverse range of economies, both large and small,

:36:07. > :36:10.developed and developing. Specifically, it contains some of

:36:11. > :36:18.the most dynamic and fast growing economies, including two of the,

:36:19. > :36:26.India and South Africa. India is also a member of the growth club,

:36:27. > :36:34.Albom was fellow Commonwealth including Tanzania and Bangladesh.

:36:35. > :36:41.Trade links with the UK and the wider Commonwealth are already

:36:42. > :36:49.strong. In 2015 total trade flows between the UK and Commonwealth

:36:50. > :36:55.countries was approximately $91 billion. The Commonwealth secretary

:36:56. > :37:00.has said overall the UK is the fourth most important export market

:37:01. > :37:08.for the Commonwealth, behind only the USA, China and Japan. 24

:37:09. > :37:14.countries said at least one quarter of the EU exports to the UK -- send

:37:15. > :37:20.their exports. And it, both countries sent around 10% or more of

:37:21. > :37:24.the total global exports to the UK. The long-standing reasons for the

:37:25. > :37:28.success of trade within the Commonwealth. Our commonality of

:37:29. > :37:39.language, as well as administrative and legal systems play a crucial

:37:40. > :37:49.role in our values. Not this, we by definition share a proud heritage

:37:50. > :37:55.and long historic ties. It has been estimated with both the bilateral

:37:56. > :38:02.partners are, most members of the often trade around 20% more and

:38:03. > :38:07.generate 10% more foreign direct investment. My Lords, I would like

:38:08. > :38:12.to see more use of internet and social media to enhance trade

:38:13. > :38:18.between the various Commonwealth countries. We must refocus on

:38:19. > :38:22.channelling investment into sectors with the potential for new growth

:38:23. > :38:29.was also helping developing countries to develop their

:38:30. > :38:33.infrastructure and productive capacity. We will need to be very

:38:34. > :38:41.ambitious and Liberal and our scope for new trade agreements and we also

:38:42. > :38:44.need to ensure timely and efficient implementations of such agreements

:38:45. > :38:49.in order to realise their full potential.

:38:50. > :38:56.I can personally vouch for the level of interest from our friends in

:38:57. > :39:01.increasing trade with the United Kingdom. Earlier this week I

:39:02. > :39:06.intended a High Commission banquet at the Guildhall and discussed a

:39:07. > :39:11.range of issues with High Commissioners from different

:39:12. > :39:15.countries. As somebody who has a long-standing connection with the

:39:16. > :39:22.City of London I was pleased to see that the City of London was hosting

:39:23. > :39:28.such an event. At the dinner I sat next to the High Commissioners and

:39:29. > :39:36.there was a clear appetite for closer trade ties in both cases. I

:39:37. > :39:45.also discussed the matter of establishing educational links

:39:46. > :39:49.between our academic institutions. I am a strong supporter of such

:39:50. > :39:53.initiatives due to the culture benefits this can provide to young

:39:54. > :40:00.students and the long-term economic benefits to our countries. When we

:40:01. > :40:07.learn from each other we gain from the other and education like trade

:40:08. > :40:14.brings people together. Kenya and Malawi are two of the countries

:40:15. > :40:19.within the Commonwealth was an optimistic future for their growth

:40:20. > :40:24.and prosperity. This presents us with fast opportunities for foreign

:40:25. > :40:35.relations. I would like to mention Sri Lanka, a country with whom I

:40:36. > :40:38.maintain close links. At a previous debate on the matter of bilateral

:40:39. > :40:47.trade with Sri Lanka and recently asked the question about trade with

:40:48. > :40:54.that country. Our two countries have sustained healthy political and

:40:55. > :41:01.economic ties for over 200 years. Sri Lanka has experienced

:41:02. > :41:08.significant growth over the past 15 years and its forecast is to grow by

:41:09. > :41:13.at least 5.5% this year. It has signed three-year regional trade

:41:14. > :41:21.agreements with other nations and one under negotiation with China. I

:41:22. > :41:27.recently met with a minister of Sri Lanka last week. I had a meeting

:41:28. > :41:31.with the country's Trade Minister. I will meet the noble Lord Price

:41:32. > :41:37.accompanied by two Sri Lankan businessmen. I hope we can build

:41:38. > :41:48.closer ties for the benefit of both of our countries. It is important to

:41:49. > :41:50.note we already have many from the Commonwealth countries who bring

:41:51. > :42:01.knowledge and expertise with them. We must be nurturing this pool of

:42:02. > :42:08.talent. We must also encourage them to take the knowledge and skill from

:42:09. > :42:12.here to their home countries. With regard to migration policy it is

:42:13. > :42:18.imperative that our immigration system serves our national interest.

:42:19. > :42:23.We should encourage some migration subject to certain criteria. But we

:42:24. > :42:31.must assert control of our own borders which will bring once

:42:32. > :42:36.again... Which will again once again be free. In any case the renewed

:42:37. > :42:40.opportunities for responsible migration from the Commonwealth will

:42:41. > :42:43.be most welcome. We must seek to promote the movement of the best

:42:44. > :42:48.talent from the Commonwealth to provide us with adequate staff to

:42:49. > :42:55.enable the country to progress further. I would like to ask if

:42:56. > :42:58.consideration can be given to formulate a suitable plan for

:42:59. > :43:04.immigration of people from the Commonwealth. We are entering an

:43:05. > :43:09.exciting new phase in a relationship with the Commonwealth. I applaud the

:43:10. > :43:13.noble meeting of Commonwealth trade ministers that was held in London

:43:14. > :43:21.last week and pay tribute to the noble Lord for his tireless efforts.

:43:22. > :43:23.I understand the meeting comprehensively identified many

:43:24. > :43:28.opportunities as well as challenges across the Commonwealth. I commend

:43:29. > :43:34.the establishment of the department for international trade and hoped to

:43:35. > :43:37.see a heavy focus based on Commonwealth countries moving

:43:38. > :43:42.forward. I hope we will begin to appoint a greater number of trade on

:43:43. > :43:47.voice for Commonwealth countries to identify and investigate

:43:48. > :43:52.opportunities. I would like to ask the minister if there is any

:43:53. > :43:59.intention to appoint more trade envoys. I am pleased to note that

:44:00. > :44:01.some workers being undertaken amongst Commonwealth countries to

:44:02. > :44:12.combat radicalisation and promote human rights. Can I ask the minister

:44:13. > :44:19.how we can enhance this activity as these two issues are very important?

:44:20. > :44:24.I welcome this debate and the excellent speech by the lady to take

:44:25. > :44:30.note of UK relations with the Commonwealth leading up to 2018 in

:44:31. > :44:39.London and Windsor. Could perhaps we have an even wider ranging remit? I

:44:40. > :44:49.spent part of my life in south India where we used to enjoy dancing

:44:50. > :44:58.gobblers uncle Christmas Day -- cobras. I am director of a small

:44:59. > :45:01.consulting company in Cambridge which is working with environmental

:45:02. > :45:04.organisations in Malaysia and like many businesses we expect to work

:45:05. > :45:11.closely with the Commonwealth and the EU. We celebrate the

:45:12. > :45:16.Commonwealth for the common history, culture and science and language. In

:45:17. > :45:20.2016 for those of mathematical bent we had the great celebration of

:45:21. > :45:29.Indian and British mathematics with that great film about unity. Indian

:45:30. > :45:36.and UK culture was celebrated last week in London at a certain museum.

:45:37. > :45:39.Two weeks ago I was at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi

:45:40. > :45:48.which to my amazement was covered with flags and posters and huge

:45:49. > :45:53.cranes of the company GCB whose chairman is a member of this house.

:45:54. > :45:58.UK engineering company which is a large factory in India and adding

:45:59. > :46:07.the centre were celebrating scientific cultural weekend... This

:46:08. > :46:16.is terrible. They were celebrating this weekend innovation and it was

:46:17. > :46:19.rather interesting, I had never seen such an event on any other campers.

:46:20. > :46:26.I think other Commonwealth countries could perhaps consider this. My

:46:27. > :46:29.general observation from visiting many campuses around the world is

:46:30. > :46:33.that Commonwealth countries that I've more benefit from these

:46:34. > :46:39.exchanges if there was a cultural and general educational exchange

:46:40. > :46:43.element connected with professional exchange. The UK provides this

:46:44. > :46:50.element for selected few scholars but not to specialists. The United

:46:51. > :46:54.States in their programme does not discriminate against scientists,

:46:55. > :47:01.engineers and technical specialists. I have been on many British dental

:47:02. > :47:05.academic visits and had visitors to the UK. In none of these

:47:06. > :47:09.Commonwealth countries involved has there been briefing on information

:47:10. > :47:15.about the general specific aspects of the countries in which the blood

:47:16. > :47:18.travelling to. However there is progress. The British Council have

:47:19. > :47:27.been warning about this for ten years. Made some progress and we had

:47:28. > :47:29.a day here in the House of Lords addressed by the Foreign and

:47:30. > :47:33.Commonwealth Office chief scientific adviser and members of the House of

:47:34. > :47:36.Lords in which a whole range of technical specialists people were

:47:37. > :47:39.allowed to talk about politics, culture and the ways in which our

:47:40. > :47:44.different countries were working together. Scientists in some

:47:45. > :47:49.countries rule countries like in China. We should be taking a broader

:47:50. > :47:56.view of how we have technical exchange. The wider issues of

:47:57. > :47:59.openness should I believe be for the Commonwealth a priority. We have

:48:00. > :48:03.extraordinary sources of information which many other noble Lords have

:48:04. > :48:09.discussed which have great economic value. People have been spoken

:48:10. > :48:14.learnedly about networks, all networks need information. With IT,

:48:15. > :48:20.satellites and so on. We need a much greater culture of openness in all

:48:21. > :48:25.organisations and government but particularly governmental ones and

:48:26. > :48:29.one of the ways of encouraging openness is through schools and

:48:30. > :48:33.communities. There is a great deal of secrecy, we see this in this

:48:34. > :48:36.country but I am afraid in many Commonwealth countries there is a

:48:37. > :48:40.culture of secrecy and this is the only way we are going to solve

:48:41. > :48:43.problems of health, environment, improving business and so on. I

:48:44. > :48:51.wondered whether perhaps one of the themes of this meeting might be more

:48:52. > :48:54.openness. People of talked about corruption but actually openness is

:48:55. > :49:02.a much broader range we should be focusing on. One of the other

:49:03. > :49:07.features is that openness comes with a greater breadth of knowledge and

:49:08. > :49:13.learning and a cultural attitude to openness. It was interesting when

:49:14. > :49:19.visiting a major university in India they commented that the traditional

:49:20. > :49:21.or specialist degree in UK and European universities is noticeably

:49:22. > :49:27.different to the broader research degree from the United States and it

:49:28. > :49:33.is the latter training and teaching that equips people better for

:49:34. > :49:37.getting the appropriate positions in developing countries such as India.

:49:38. > :49:41.It would be useful for Commonwealth countries to consider the most

:49:42. > :49:47.appropriate education policy for their countries and perhaps push the

:49:48. > :49:53.UK in this more openness direction. One of the important features which

:49:54. > :49:59.Lords have discussed is the question of global climate change. It is

:50:00. > :50:06.accepted as an overarching policy, an issue in all Commonwealth

:50:07. > :50:10.countries. This goal is pursued in conjunction with global programmes

:50:11. > :50:17.of the United Nations. Despite the slightly negative remarks of some

:50:18. > :50:20.noble peers this session, the United Nations is an extremely important

:50:21. > :50:24.part of the functioning of the Commonwealth fund Commonwealth

:50:25. > :50:31.countries and we have to know where we can have the best benefits. It is

:50:32. > :50:34.noticeable that scientists from many Commonwealth countries are involved

:50:35. > :50:36.in leadership positions in the United Nations notably in some of

:50:37. > :50:43.the leading positions on climate change. One of the other interesting

:50:44. > :50:47.features if you go to tropical countries you find that the tropical

:50:48. > :50:52.countries are very interested in the polls in the Arctic and the

:50:53. > :50:58.Antarctic. They claim they have the third poll which is the enormous

:50:59. > :51:04.area of snow. Because of the melting of the Arctic ice, the two groups

:51:05. > :51:12.may involve shipping going through the Arctic. That is why India for

:51:13. > :51:16.example, Singapore, are part of the Arctic Council, observers in the

:51:17. > :51:19.arts Council, which is a big new development, and there are other

:51:20. > :51:24.areas in which the UK can collaborate. The essential issue is

:51:25. > :51:26.to develop practical plans that connect health and economic and

:51:27. > :51:35.environmental preservation with reducing carbon emissions and

:51:36. > :51:39.reducing adverse impacts. We were provided about the importance of UN

:51:40. > :51:44.sustainability goals and that is one way we look to seek about their

:51:45. > :51:48.progress. It is important to see that technical and commercial

:51:49. > :51:51.exchange between UK and Commonwealth countries are working in practical

:51:52. > :51:56.areas. For example three weeks ago the Indian space research

:51:57. > :52:02.Organisation sent up one rocket with 100 satellites on it, that is quite

:52:03. > :52:07.something. We shall be discussing in the House of Lords this week or next

:52:08. > :52:13.week the British space legislation to have more of these small missions

:52:14. > :52:16.which focus on very specific applications. This is something we

:52:17. > :52:22.shall learn with other Commonwealth countries. The other important point

:52:23. > :52:26.is that Commonwealth countries have great experience in non-carbon

:52:27. > :52:31.energy systems. In terms of large systems and Microsystems. There are

:52:32. > :52:35.going to be many opportunities for collaboration. One of the

:52:36. > :52:38.interesting features of many Commonwealth countries as there is

:52:39. > :52:43.tremendous competition for space therefore we have to find systems

:52:44. > :52:49.that are very economical of space, use of space, on the land, if not

:52:50. > :52:58.using offshore. The City of London is noticeable for helping these new

:52:59. > :53:01.systems. As has been said one of the important things is that have

:53:02. > :53:04.connections between the developed and developing countries of the

:53:05. > :53:08.Commonwealth. Canada for example has great experience in nuclear and wind

:53:09. > :53:17.power systems that we shall look forward to these in the future. I

:53:18. > :53:21.will declare my interest as Vice chairman on a committee and a

:53:22. > :53:27.long-standing member of a group on HIV. This week the Prime Minister

:53:28. > :53:31.said as we read to create a truly global Britain the deep partnerships

:53:32. > :53:34.that we sure throughout the 21st-century Commonwealth and help

:53:35. > :53:36.us in the prosperity and security of our citizens and those of our many

:53:37. > :53:49.friends and allies across the world. The baroness talk about the cross

:53:50. > :53:54.governmental work going into a reframing and fresh approach to the

:53:55. > :53:58.Commonwealth and I want to talk about how we might work similarly to

:53:59. > :54:05.deal with a long-standing problem. The international trade secretary is

:54:06. > :54:08.meeting with representatives from Commonwealth countries to promote

:54:09. > :54:13.free trade deals between Britain and African countries, automatically

:54:14. > :54:18.Commonwealth Enterprise And Investment Council. The plan has

:54:19. > :54:23.apparently entirely been dubbed Empire burgeoned to buy some

:54:24. > :54:29.Whitehall officials, I hope that does not stay -- empire version two.

:54:30. > :54:36.The word empire does not resonate around the world. If this is to work

:54:37. > :54:39.we need to create a new relationship within the Commonwealth, one that

:54:40. > :54:45.reflects the new business reality. We must create new conditions in

:54:46. > :54:51.which modern business can thrive. In 2015 the human development trust

:54:52. > :54:56.noted decriminalisation of homosexuality is undoubtedly a

:54:57. > :55:01.specific, problem. It encompasses 2 billion of the 2.9 billion people

:55:02. > :55:07.who live in countries where it is a crime to be gay. The World Economic

:55:08. > :55:12.Forum produced a report in 2015 and the cost of discrimination but said,

:55:13. > :55:17.on a range of social economic indicators LGBT people fear or they

:55:18. > :55:19.compare to the general population and studies of multiples -- free up

:55:20. > :55:28.early. Statistics represent untold personal

:55:29. > :55:34.tragedies for the individuals concerned but they also reflect a

:55:35. > :55:40.senseless waste of human potential on a grand scale. Every try and use

:55:41. > :55:45.thrown out of the home are missing out on education is a loss for

:55:46. > :55:49.society, every lesbian or gay worker or employer driven to leave their

:55:50. > :55:53.job or even country is a lost opportunity to build more productive

:55:54. > :55:59.economy. At a macro level the cost to the country's economy can be

:56:00. > :56:02.counted in billions. The study from the Royal Bank in 2014 found

:56:03. > :56:09.discrimination against LGBT people in India could cost them up to $32

:56:10. > :56:16.billion a year in lost economic output. Part of the solution lies

:56:17. > :56:21.within Government and they have the power to change laws and the noble

:56:22. > :56:27.lord set out some of the progress being made but the point of change

:56:28. > :56:32.is way too slow. If that is to be further progress than Government

:56:33. > :56:37.need the active involvement of a business and in all likelihood it

:56:38. > :56:43.will be the big international businesses who are at the forefront

:56:44. > :56:51.of change and the need to be certain they can send their employees and

:56:52. > :56:55.two environments which are safe. -- into environments and it cannot send

:56:56. > :57:01.them to places where their health will be compromised or cannot be

:57:02. > :57:07.sustained. I want to pick up the point about HIV. The top ten

:57:08. > :57:11.countries globally with the HIV highest prevalence of Commonwealth

:57:12. > :57:19.nations. There are some nations like South Africa which are making great

:57:20. > :57:22.strides because of political change, but laws and countries were

:57:23. > :57:28.criminalisation makes it hard for people to access services without

:57:29. > :57:33.fear of imprisonment are in the Commonwealth. The Academy of science

:57:34. > :57:39.in South Africa notes the paradox of laws that criminalise same-sex

:57:40. > :57:43.sexual contact us while their proponents justify them to improve

:57:44. > :57:47.public health they actually have a very destructive effect on public

:57:48. > :57:53.health. Criminalisation and stigmatisation not only do physical

:57:54. > :58:00.health outcomes for those marginalised but they have an impact

:58:01. > :58:05.on crime, economic empowerment and the rule of law, all of which are

:58:06. > :58:11.essentials for business to thrive. My Lords, this is an issue that

:58:12. > :58:15.needs political change, many Commonwealth leaders, deep down,

:58:16. > :58:23.note this change has become but they are very few awful because of local

:58:24. > :58:28.politics, often hand by hateful religious rhetoric funded by

:58:29. > :58:33.Christian supremacists in the USA. In such circumstances politicians

:58:34. > :58:42.are very fearful to speak out. We have had things like the declaration

:58:43. > :58:46.in 1991 on the 2013 charter for the Commonwealth which do not talk

:58:47. > :58:49.explicitly about LGBT communities but do talk about human rights and

:58:50. > :58:57.freedoms without distinction of any kind. My Lords, in this country we

:58:58. > :59:04.have led the way on this issue. We did it over a space of 50 years and

:59:05. > :59:11.was a fraught process and not pleased for Mac members of the

:59:12. > :59:17.benches opposite... We are uniquely placed because of our legacy and

:59:18. > :59:21.contacts we have with the Commonwealth, to enable political

:59:22. > :59:24.leaders in those countries to go through a similarly difficult

:59:25. > :59:31.journey. It will not be easy but it is something we should do. I want to

:59:32. > :59:35.ask the noble Baroness, the minister, if she will pick up on the

:59:36. > :59:42.comments by the Prime Minister and how she will say how does the

:59:43. > :59:48.Government see this summit is helping that process of developing

:59:49. > :59:53.diversity and prosperity? My Lords, discrimination is a very expensive,

:59:54. > :59:57.wasting talent, losing skills, keeping people in jail, so expensive

:59:58. > :00:05.that we in this country cannot afford to do it and, most countries

:00:06. > :00:09.on certainly cannot afford to do it. -- Commonwealth countries cannot

:00:10. > :00:12.afford to do it. We have numinous mechanisms to help that process of

:00:13. > :00:20.leadership, links and governmental level between various ministers, we

:00:21. > :00:27.also have links with civil servants and across professions such as

:00:28. > :00:34.courts and the judiciary. I want to ask the noble Baroness the Minister,

:00:35. > :00:39.given the scale of this and the noble Baroness has started to

:00:40. > :00:44.indicate this is a cross governmental priority, can she

:00:45. > :00:51.explained how departments other than the two mentioned, such as the

:00:52. > :01:00.business and trade division, will help with this key change which has

:01:01. > :01:04.to happen? I say to the noble lord Eilish and intently to the stock --

:01:05. > :01:12.I listen to stop about the covenant. The of religion in building the

:01:13. > :01:15.covenant in a manner respectful and inclusive of all is very important

:01:16. > :01:20.and the Church is a key player and some of us will watch with interest

:01:21. > :01:27.to the leadership rule the church plays in ensuring we are part of map

:01:28. > :01:35.covenant and I invite him to come and talk when we start work on our

:01:36. > :01:42.next report, due to be on the subject of religion, the role played

:01:43. > :01:46.by religion in LGBT equality. My Lords, the head of the Commonwealth

:01:47. > :01:51.said this, the Commonwealth is not an organisation with a mission, it

:01:52. > :01:57.is a rather an opportunity for its people to work together to achieve

:01:58. > :02:04.practical solutions to problems. It is time for us to change the debate.

:02:05. > :02:10.The terms of the debate. Turn away from one of cultural imperialism and

:02:11. > :02:14.exploitation by the North to one of mutual respect and development of

:02:15. > :02:24.good business. This is for all Commonwealth citizens, especially.

:02:25. > :02:31.Like the lady Baroness Barker I would like to address the issue of

:02:32. > :02:38.LGBT rights and in doing so I reiterate some of the points made so

:02:39. > :02:46.effectively, not just by her, but also by the noble lords and powerful

:02:47. > :02:53.speeches earlier in the debate. All three are, to me, noble friends

:02:54. > :02:58.engaged a common enterprise. My Lords, one recurring feature of our

:02:59. > :03:03.welcome and valuable debates on the Commonwealth has been the

:03:04. > :03:07.demonstration of strong cross-party support for action to remove the

:03:08. > :03:13.suffering and discrimination endured by millions of homosexuals in its

:03:14. > :03:18.member countries who would become criminals if they give expression to

:03:19. > :03:23.the love with which they have been imbued. Some 90% of Commonwealth

:03:24. > :03:29.citizens lived in jurisdictions where same-sex intimacy is a

:03:30. > :03:37.criminal offence. It must be right on all sides of the house we should

:03:38. > :03:42.stress again today the need to put a complete end to this grave violation

:03:43. > :03:49.of human rights which soaked fragrant wood breaches international

:03:50. > :03:54.law and is incompatible -- so strongly breaches international law.

:03:55. > :03:59.When human rights are set aside human misery inevitably follows.

:04:00. > :04:03.That view is widely supported on these benches and it has been

:04:04. > :04:11.championed by my noble friend Lord Black in many debates. Unfortunately

:04:12. > :04:16.he cannot be here today to renew personally his call for the removal

:04:17. > :04:23.of the terrible injustice that gay people into an 36 of the 52

:04:24. > :04:26.countries of the Commonwealth. -- that they endure. Many of our

:04:27. > :04:31.colleagues who share the sentiments. They were expressed with trench and

:04:32. > :04:37.see as many noble lord will remember on a number of occasions by our Lord

:04:38. > :04:45.Speaker before he took up his office. As has been pointed out, we

:04:46. > :04:50.must be careful not to adopt an unduly strident or insensitive tone

:04:51. > :04:55.in seeking to encourage the 36 Commonwealth countries to abolish

:04:56. > :05:00.oppressive and discovered the real laws. They got them from us in the

:05:01. > :05:08.days of Empire as the noble lord reminded us. As a Commonwealth

:05:09. > :05:15.country, that has rid itself of these laws, is not natural for us to

:05:16. > :05:21.want to extend the same legal rights and protections that we now enjoy to

:05:22. > :05:27.gay people in other most countries, United to us by ties of kinship,

:05:28. > :05:32.perfection and history. We would be untrue to ourselves if we repress

:05:33. > :05:39.the desire to live others as we ourselves have been liberated. Many

:05:40. > :05:46.-- liberates others. Many in the Commonwealth agree. It has over five

:05:47. > :05:49.years since the group unanimously recommended the heads of Government

:05:50. > :05:58.should take steps to encourage the repeal of the laws against

:05:59. > :06:04.homosexuals. How well, were the words -- how WorldCom were the words

:06:05. > :06:08.of the president of Malta in drawing attention to the blot on the

:06:09. > :06:15.Commonwealth's reputation created by widespread disregard of the rights

:06:16. > :06:22.of LGBT people, as the noble lord mentioned earlier? It was in Malta

:06:23. > :06:28.itself to use do the affects of the denial of those rights were brought

:06:29. > :06:35.closer than ever before to the Centre of Commonwealth discussion

:06:36. > :06:41.and debate. The kaleidoscope trust, whose wonderful work has been

:06:42. > :06:46.commended here today, they work in partnership with the Commonwealth

:06:47. > :06:51.equality network, succeeded in raising LGBT issues in a number of

:06:52. > :06:54.forums during the Commonwealth heads of Government meeting which Malta

:06:55. > :07:00.hosted. It was an important breakthrough. The Commonwealth

:07:01. > :07:08.summit in London at the Windsor next year must follow it up in a decisive

:07:09. > :07:12.manner. In Malta the Commonwealth equality network's LGBT activist

:07:13. > :07:17.from countries where gay people are criminalised were able to give

:07:18. > :07:21.first-hand accounts of the perils and dangerous to which they are

:07:22. > :07:28.daily subject. Both the network and the kaleidoscope trust are convinced

:07:29. > :07:32.in their own words, an approach involving those directly affected is

:07:33. > :07:41.essential for stimulating progress on LGBT rates. My noble friend will

:07:42. > :07:47.know all about this. She has shown great receptiveness to the views of

:07:48. > :07:52.LGBT organisations, whose respect she has one. They stand ready to

:07:53. > :07:59.work with the Government in creating a firm place for LGBT issues on the

:08:00. > :08:03.summits agenda. The Commonwealth equality network has proposed the

:08:04. > :08:08.inclusion of presentations by countries and the global South which

:08:09. > :08:13.have decriminalised, to enable others to learn from their

:08:14. > :08:17.experience. What is the Government's view that suggestion? Countries that

:08:18. > :08:21.want the criminalised homosexuality should be able to look to the

:08:22. > :08:27.Commonwealth Secretariat for advice and guidance and for that the

:08:28. > :08:35.Secretariat will need adequate resources. That, too, deserves a

:08:36. > :08:41.place on the summit's agenda. This summer, my Lords, could provide a

:08:42. > :08:42.turning point for LGBT issues in the history of the Commonwealth and we

:08:43. > :08:54.must not let the opportunity slip. May I please the touch on one other

:08:55. > :09:00.wholly unrelated matter? Our debates often include references always

:09:01. > :09:06.couched in the warmest terms to the Republic of Ireland. My noble friend

:09:07. > :09:12.made a brief reference to it today. There are so many of us who would

:09:13. > :09:17.rejoice if our close neighbour and partner in so many enterprises could

:09:18. > :09:22.be persuaded to consider coming back into the Commonwealth family. They

:09:23. > :09:29.would find an organisation utterly different from the one they left

:09:30. > :09:40.nearly 70 years ago. 52 wholly independent states working together

:09:41. > :09:43.on terms of equality which have a collaborative group that would be

:09:44. > :09:49.enriched with the Republic of Ireland. It is accepted there can be

:09:50. > :09:54.no change in the constitutional position without the democratic

:09:55. > :09:59.consent of its people. With its own links to many different parts of the

:10:00. > :10:03.world going back centuries the Irish Republic would find unnatural home

:10:04. > :10:12.as part of the Commonwealth's great global partnership. This is not an

:10:13. > :10:16.issue which has so far had widespread interest in political

:10:17. > :10:18.circles in the Irish Republic but with the Commonwealth at an

:10:19. > :10:24.important crossroads in its history those at the helm of it of its fears

:10:25. > :10:32.should surely be encouraged to reach out to all parts of these islands

:10:33. > :10:41.that the Commonwealth is a unique family of nations. The Republic of

:10:42. > :10:48.Ireland belongs within our family. I thank the noble Baroness for

:10:49. > :10:52.ensuring a generous amount of time for this important debate. That has

:10:53. > :10:55.never been a time when the diversity and unity the Commonwealth

:10:56. > :11:01.represents has been more urgently needed. One of the continued chat

:11:02. > :11:05.Dominic challenges within the Commonwealth of the family including

:11:06. > :11:10.discontent between the developed and developing nations, small states and

:11:11. > :11:13.large states, tiger and fragile economies, let us not forget the

:11:14. > :11:20.considerable achievements, for example the decoration of the

:11:21. > :11:22.Commonwealth principles in 1971, the declaration of 1991, the human

:11:23. > :11:26.rights initiative and the Commonwealth ministerial action

:11:27. > :11:31.group, and of course there's always the underpinning of the work carried

:11:32. > :11:37.out the world over in co-operation with civil society operations. We

:11:38. > :11:42.face new seemingly insurmountable issues of radicalism, migration and

:11:43. > :11:48.trade. What can we do to counteract potentially divisive global trends?

:11:49. > :11:57.Is the Commonwealth equipped to act to its full strengths? Not as well

:11:58. > :12:00.as one might hope. Institutions are having difficulty grappling with the

:12:01. > :12:03.big issues of the world today in part because they were never

:12:04. > :12:09.designed to deal with such a rapidly changing political environment. The

:12:10. > :12:13.goalposts have shifted seismically, but is there more that can be done

:12:14. > :12:16.and what are the major obstacles? Despite any number of agreements

:12:17. > :12:20.there has been a failure by Commonwealth countries generally to

:12:21. > :12:24.implement fully the principles that underlie membership. For example of

:12:25. > :12:30.the 52 member states only 27 have signed the arms trade treaty adopted

:12:31. > :12:35.in 2013 and all these only 20 have ratified the treaty. This treaty if

:12:36. > :12:40.universally adopted would be a powerful instrument in reducing

:12:41. > :12:43.their destruction associated with the illegal arms trade. Surely the

:12:44. > :12:47.Commonwealth could become a leader on this creating awareness of the

:12:48. > :12:52.treaty and insisting on ratification. One can also look at

:12:53. > :12:56.access to information. Freedom of Information laws and tractors have

:12:57. > :13:01.become a consistent feature of functioning democracies. The

:13:02. > :13:04.Commonwealth was one of the earliest intergovernmental organisations to

:13:05. > :13:08.recognise the importance of people's right to know when to be involved in

:13:09. > :13:13.decisions that affect people's lives and livelihoods. Despite strenuous

:13:14. > :13:17.efforts on the part of parliamentarians through programmes

:13:18. > :13:22.in the shape of workshops and concept practice and experience of

:13:23. > :13:24.Freedom of Information only 20 Commonwealth countries have

:13:25. > :13:32.introduced Freedom of Information laws by 2010, roughly 30% in 30

:13:33. > :13:37.years. Commonwealth efforts to empower women politics is another

:13:38. > :13:42.area where there is scrutiny. There have been in and will meetings,

:13:43. > :13:46.workshops, reports, yet in all other regions the engagement of women,

:13:47. > :13:51.especially younger women, in political life, is still modest. The

:13:52. > :13:55.summit last year concluded the strong practical recommendations in

:13:56. > :14:01.three areas, violence against women, women and leadership and women's

:14:02. > :14:04.economic empowerment. We continue to look forward to hearing more in the

:14:05. > :14:11.coming months on the impact of these programmes. The work of the eminent

:14:12. > :14:15.Persons group set up in 2011 together with the Commonwealth human

:14:16. > :14:21.rights initiative to look at options for reform arrived at an important

:14:22. > :14:27.conclusion. It is only when parliamentarians work with

:14:28. > :14:31.bureaucrats, civil servants and crucially with NGOs that obstacles

:14:32. > :14:35.can be overcome. It is also a well researched fact that unless the

:14:36. > :14:41.wider population is if not engaged at least aware of Parliament's

:14:42. > :14:48.priorities that the chances of successful change are slim. The UK

:14:49. > :14:52.has the privilege to host the 2018 summit. What steps can be taken to

:14:53. > :14:57.ensure there are measurable and lasting outcomes? The minister has

:14:58. > :15:01.confirmed the importance of Parliamentary engagement but

:15:02. > :15:06.cautions that the agenda is agreed by consensus. Nevertheless it is

:15:07. > :15:11.Parliament that right governments in agreeing legislation, allocating

:15:12. > :15:15.budgets, in oversight and ensuring implementation. Commonwealth

:15:16. > :15:21.Parliaments through their various linked bodies in an excellent to

:15:22. > :15:24.discuss, glee and disseminate a few clear action -based programmes. The

:15:25. > :15:29.Commonwealth has over the years taken upon itself a heavy agenda

:15:30. > :15:33.with recording themes of the promotion of human rights and

:15:34. > :15:38.obviously, you think it meant and the management of economic

:15:39. > :15:43.globalisation. The Commonwealth secretariats is slow and modestly

:15:44. > :15:46.funded. It could perhaps use the occasion of the UK summit to

:15:47. > :15:49.downsize and sharpen its goals while at the same time investing in ever

:15:50. > :15:56.greater networking and joint programming. There is a golden

:15:57. > :16:02.opportunity. Put simply there's just about time to encourage Commonwealth

:16:03. > :16:05.Parliaments to decide on their priorities, whether these be on

:16:06. > :16:12.peace measures, trade and of security. Therefore thereafter to

:16:13. > :16:16.communicate intra- and inter-regionally and convened on the

:16:17. > :16:21.early spring of next year and the witch priorities should go forward

:16:22. > :16:25.to an organising committee of regional chairs. The dust would be

:16:26. > :16:34.to agree and draw up a clearly worded action plan to be presented.

:16:35. > :16:35.Such a programme would require good energy and commitment from

:16:36. > :16:40.parliamentarians throughout the Commonwealth. The synergistic effect

:16:41. > :16:45.of parliaments across traditional divides acting together with the

:16:46. > :16:48.relevant NGOs could be considerable. Further more if managed it would

:16:49. > :16:56.place parliamentarians at the centre of implementing Commonwealth valuess

:16:57. > :17:02.on the seems appropriate. Many Commonwealth countries have the

:17:03. > :17:06.links with the UK and via its to the EU and there will be consequences to

:17:07. > :17:09.the UK decision to leave the EU. This could move to hinder all kinds

:17:10. > :17:16.of seemingly small but very important conventions which bind us

:17:17. > :17:19.together. For example changes in the facilitating remittances, travel,

:17:20. > :17:25.visas, tourism, investment flows and cultural exchange. We could perhaps

:17:26. > :17:29.take the lead in a 19th intention to protect these conventions through a

:17:30. > :17:34.programme of self-interest and solidarity. It has been said by

:17:35. > :17:40.thoughtful people that the perils we face are greater today than at any

:17:41. > :17:45.time in history. That may be sold and as parliamentarians we should be

:17:46. > :17:50.prepared to work across party and national boundaries to insist on

:17:51. > :17:54.measures agreed. The Commonwealth provides an ideal forum for the

:17:55. > :17:58.exchange of experience, for exploring the most effective ways of

:17:59. > :18:04.transforming obligations and international law into domestic

:18:05. > :18:08.legal framework and reaffirming our legal, cultural and political

:18:09. > :18:13.heritage. There is no shortage of Commonwealth bodies. At the last

:18:14. > :18:20.count there were something like 80 or 90 ranging from law and

:18:21. > :18:25.journalism to business, youth, trade and aid. If united on the global

:18:26. > :18:30.issues the Commonwealth and all of its satellite organisations could

:18:31. > :18:35.emerge as a strong, capable, committed to ethical governance

:18:36. > :18:44.leadership. Never has the time for the over adoption and practice of

:18:45. > :18:53.such a role been more urgent. I thank the Baroness for calling this

:18:54. > :18:58.debate. Given the historical trade summit and the Commonwealth week of

:18:59. > :19:01.celebration in the presence of Her Majesty I was inspired by the

:19:02. > :19:09.contribution in the City of London by the Prime Minister of Malta and

:19:10. > :19:12.his foresighted vision of a more united Commonwealth. As the daughter

:19:13. > :19:17.of Commonwealth I wish to focus my comments on the role of women of the

:19:18. > :19:25.Commonwealth. Current leadership can easily view a false sense of comfort

:19:26. > :19:29.with Her Majesty leading there are only two women heads of government

:19:30. > :19:34.in Britain. The Speaker of Bangladesh parliament is the

:19:35. > :19:44.Commonwealth Parliamentary association chair and Baroness

:19:45. > :19:51.Scotland the Secretary General's priorities to drive women in the

:19:52. > :19:58.changing world of work. They aim to continue as pioneers towards gender

:19:59. > :20:03.equality and to achieve fairly economic and social inclusion of

:20:04. > :20:07.women and girls. I wish to take this opportunity to speak particularly

:20:08. > :20:11.about the importance of political, social economic inclusion of women

:20:12. > :20:14.at the heart of security relationship among the 52

:20:15. > :20:20.Commonwealth countries without which there cannot be lasting peace and

:20:21. > :20:25.prosperity in our world. As a member of the Africa Parliamentary group

:20:26. > :20:28.last year we concluded an inquiry amongst the many objectives were the

:20:29. > :20:36.role of aid in promoting human rights. The UK rightly takes pride

:20:37. > :20:39.in its aid policy. It is an important leveraged to work

:20:40. > :20:44.alongside our Commonwealth partners to pursue a common desires for

:20:45. > :20:50.social justice, equity, be it in peace times conflict. My personal

:20:51. > :20:54.observation gelling that period are that while many Commonwealth leaders

:20:55. > :20:58.have unflinchingly loyalties, giving the rising influence of a younger

:20:59. > :21:06.generation a significant number of ministers and leaders were mindful

:21:07. > :21:09.of their young leaders and their influence his and their evidence

:21:10. > :21:17.they did in no uncertain times that aid cannot cannot dictate social

:21:18. > :21:25.governments on their political policies of countries. In this

:21:26. > :21:31.context any reference to the empire old or new rest legitimate questions

:21:32. > :21:41.rising about how institutions around the Commonwealth can benefit equally

:21:42. > :21:47.alongside British interests and we have enjoyed an unfettered advantage

:21:48. > :21:50.many want to negotiate a new post-colonial relationship and I am

:21:51. > :21:58.in total agreement with the contribution made by the noble lady

:21:59. > :22:02.whose comprehensive analysis looked at how we can achieve levels of

:22:03. > :22:09.parity and respect amongst nation states. Our Commonwealth Charter

:22:10. > :22:11.declares gender equality and women's empowerment essential components of

:22:12. > :22:18.human development and basic human rights. The advancement of women's

:22:19. > :22:20.rights and the education of girls are critical preconditions for

:22:21. > :22:24.effective and sustainable development. These values of human

:22:25. > :22:30.dignity and gender equality must be intrinsic unpleasant in all of our

:22:31. > :22:34.trade and security relationship as we continue to strengthen our ties.

:22:35. > :22:41.Of course if women are absent in their thousands from executive

:22:42. > :22:45.governments and in Parliament with inimitable consequences of progress

:22:46. > :22:49.towards gender equality in these areas at regional and national

:22:50. > :22:53.levels. Women's political empowerment and equal access to

:22:54. > :22:56.leadership position at all levels are fundamental to achieving the

:22:57. > :23:02.sustainable economy participation and a fair world. With restricted

:23:03. > :23:06.growth in women's representation, advancement of gender equality and

:23:07. > :23:14.business of governments, peace and security is seriously threatened.

:23:15. > :23:17.Unsurprisingly 2007 showed a decline about it, political participation of

:23:18. > :23:22.women in the number of countries priding itself with only all of two

:23:23. > :23:24.heads of government which indicates that change has to be embedded and

:23:25. > :23:35.come from every corner of society. The number of women's speakers and

:23:36. > :23:41.Parliament has seen a small increase while the number of ministers remain

:23:42. > :23:47.unchanged, still far from gender parity and indicate gender equality

:23:48. > :23:53.remained out of sight in powers structure and decision-making.

:23:54. > :23:57.Others remain the main -- obverse and decision-making remains the

:23:58. > :24:04.domain of men. A concerted effort to promote women's rights, we will not

:24:05. > :24:09.see the societal environments in which entrepreneurship and small

:24:10. > :24:13.businesses can thrive and without regarding women as critical factors

:24:14. > :24:19.of our economy they will not be equality and in the market,

:24:20. > :24:24.boardroom or financial independence, thus rendering the fabric of our

:24:25. > :24:30.institutions undemocratic. Leaving aside, at our peril, the importance

:24:31. > :24:33.of women consumers in trade and business, soft power generators and

:24:34. > :24:39.though many changes must come from within national institutions, we, as

:24:40. > :24:43.the international community, and Britain in particular, have a

:24:44. > :24:49.responsibility to ensure gender equity forging ahead unconditionally

:24:50. > :24:56.amongst our highest priority agenda -- is amongst our highest priority

:24:57. > :25:01.agenda. There seems to be a distinct excitement about post-Brexit

:25:02. > :25:06.relationship with the Commonwealth. Sigma -- various governments have

:25:07. > :25:13.overlooked the Commonwealth and people of the Commonwealth remain

:25:14. > :25:16.deferent UK standing and values, not to mention Actaeon into their own

:25:17. > :25:25.legal systems and Government based on our very model that prevails. We

:25:26. > :25:28.also have enforceable by aspera -- also have and they have spirit here

:25:29. > :25:36.that contributed immensely to the UK and we should utilise these to

:25:37. > :25:40.strengthen our economy and institutional ties in Commonwealth

:25:41. > :25:44.countries. Many second and third generation Asian and Africans

:25:45. > :25:49.brought up in the UK are trailblazing in businesses in their

:25:50. > :25:56.parents' birthplaces. Seeking out emerging markets as well as

:25:57. > :26:00.assisting in building community infrastructures, I have witnessed

:26:01. > :26:05.many such projects first-hand in Bangladesh and though many friends

:26:06. > :26:09.actively engaged in India, Pakistan and many parts of Africa. This means

:26:10. > :26:19.our Government will need to refresh our policies on migration and I

:26:20. > :26:25.cannot but mention welcoming maps for international students beyond

:26:26. > :26:30.China. I must reiterate our call for international students to be taken

:26:31. > :26:34.out of the net migration figures. The message to many parts of the

:26:35. > :26:43.Commonwealth has been too harsh for too long, that they are not welcome

:26:44. > :26:50.here. The irrepressible presence of the Bangladesh and Pakistani

:26:51. > :26:54.diaspora is important to developing an export market and China is

:26:55. > :26:58.already strengthening its position in these regions were our standing,

:26:59. > :27:02.history and friendship is far more significant. The much respected and

:27:03. > :27:08.praised noble lord Marlon has recently opened these doors and

:27:09. > :27:12.possibilities by organising the first ever Commonwealth heads of

:27:13. > :27:16.trade meeting with a view to increasing cooperation and trade

:27:17. > :27:18.between Commonwealth Government and leading businesses. I had the

:27:19. > :27:26.privilege of having a conversation with him and I wish him well in his

:27:27. > :27:32.endeavours. Finally, the Commonwealth Secretary in

:27:33. > :27:35.collaboration with the Council of Commonwealth and others have

:27:36. > :27:41.launched the Commonwealth woman mentor schemes and I hope... Please

:27:42. > :28:00.forgive me. I hope some of business leaders but

:28:01. > :28:08.not meant a new generation of women from the Commonwealth. What will Her

:28:09. > :28:13.Majesty's Government do to ensure all future political and economic

:28:14. > :28:21.discussions in bed woman's the at its core and recognises the right of

:28:22. > :28:26.women -- enshrines woman's at the core and recognises the importance.

:28:27. > :28:32.What plans are in place by the Government to bring about peace

:28:33. > :28:42.among the Commonwealth countries were long-standing confrontations,,

:28:43. > :28:49.exposing young people to extremism. I wish to repeat my previous call in

:28:50. > :28:53.this house, reparation and apologies for the hundreds of thousands of

:28:54. > :28:57.women in Bangladesh raped by the Pakistani army. Well the noble lady

:28:58. > :29:06.minister consider this proposition within the context of peace building

:29:07. > :29:10.and except these demands... Finally, I would like to thank her and take

:29:11. > :29:18.this opportunity to salute Her Majesty the Prime Minister for her

:29:19. > :29:20.continued leadership towards a more peaceful and prosperous Commonwealth

:29:21. > :29:29.and look forward to the 2018 meeting.

:29:30. > :29:35.I welcome the chance to debate the Commonwealth in your Lordship's

:29:36. > :29:39.house and declare my interest as the Prime Minister's trade envoy to

:29:40. > :29:46.Uganda and Rwanda. For those of us who for many years argued we have

:29:47. > :29:51.neglected the Commonwealth, our leaving the EU offers us a historic

:29:52. > :29:59.push to reshape foreign policy and rekindle relations with this amazing

:30:00. > :30:09.group of nations. I would putting my noble friend Lord Howell who...

:30:10. > :30:14.Europe is origin, America our ally and the Commonwealth family. Like

:30:15. > :30:21.all families, they are all different. Yet they are united by

:30:22. > :30:27.strong foundations. None stronger than the amazing leadership of our

:30:28. > :30:34.sovereign, Her Majesty the Queen. As a member of the other Howell said in

:30:35. > :30:38.2013, the Commonwealth has -- a member of the other house said that

:30:39. > :30:44.without constant renewal this relationship will gradually decay

:30:45. > :30:49.and it is exactly as we knew we had been talking about today and should

:30:50. > :30:53.continue to do so in future. I would like to ponder for a moment where we

:30:54. > :31:01.have gone wrong. I think for main causes. Firstly, success in UK

:31:02. > :31:03.governments have given little thought -- successive UK Government

:31:04. > :31:10.is how we can make the Commonwealth effective as a trading body and many

:31:11. > :31:17.ministers and civil servants see Britain -- fear Britain playing a

:31:18. > :31:22.leading role in their organisation because of colonial fear. Secondly,

:31:23. > :31:27.the second of a new charter in 2012 was meant to give the Commonwealth a

:31:28. > :31:31.new direction and the members agreed to prioritise democracy and human

:31:32. > :31:37.rights but that has not worked because we are prioritising areas

:31:38. > :31:46.where there is the most contention. Trade, where is disputes. Thirdly,

:31:47. > :31:49.our membership of the EU consumed is vast amount of diplomatic time and

:31:50. > :31:55.resources about delivering an equivalent amount of outcome.

:31:56. > :32:00.Finally, my Lords, and membership of the single market and Customs union

:32:01. > :32:04.spread apathy amongst many businesses. British businesses who

:32:05. > :32:07.have created what should be world leading product have limited

:32:08. > :32:13.themselves to our nearest trading partners like the EU and neglected

:32:14. > :32:21.emerging markets and Commonwealth where we need to be.

:32:22. > :32:29.My Lords, if we will give common purpose, let us focus first on

:32:30. > :32:33.trade. The Commonwealth comprises 52 largely English-speaking countries

:32:34. > :32:39.to a combined population of 2.6 billion, covering one third of the

:32:40. > :32:46.world, a combined GDP of more than $10 trillion and includes five G20

:32:47. > :32:52.countries with trade projected surplus -- trade projected to

:32:53. > :32:59.surpass one clean dollars by 2020. -- $1 trillion.

:33:00. > :33:03.We should keep in mind a recent report on the Commonwealth

:33:04. > :33:09.highlighted it is 19% cheaper than average for a business in the

:33:10. > :33:14.Commonwealth to trade because of commonalities like our legal system

:33:15. > :33:20.and language. By reforming the Commonwealth around trade agendas we

:33:21. > :33:26.solve one of our biggest problems and help spread prosperity. Trade is

:33:27. > :33:30.of crucial benefits, not just for one, but for all countries

:33:31. > :33:38.concerned. My Lords, we are all children of the Commonwealth and I

:33:39. > :33:42.was born in that great continent of Africa so I would like to turn now

:33:43. > :33:47.to our relationship with the 18 Commonwealth countries in that

:33:48. > :33:51.continent. Whilst many things that we can do with the Commonwealth

:33:52. > :33:56.level to build trade links with all nations there are many things we

:33:57. > :34:09.should do any bilateral level as well. At the moment this seven of

:34:10. > :34:16.those 18 countries, we should as a matter of urgency appoint trade

:34:17. > :34:25.envoys for the remaining 11, including Zambia, Malawi and... Will

:34:26. > :34:32.be minister, if there are such plans in place? We seek to build bridges

:34:33. > :34:36.with these nations and to spend time on issues ministers simply cannot

:34:37. > :34:41.always get to. I have been in the role for just over one year and we

:34:42. > :34:46.are on course to double the trade we do with Uganda. And increase it in

:34:47. > :34:54.Rwanda by up to 20 times the 2015 level. Other steps we can take, such

:34:55. > :35:03.as aviation links with African Commonwealth countries. A decision

:35:04. > :35:09.taken by British airways to suspend some flights, flight I should say

:35:10. > :35:12.were almost always full, this was a shameful step and these were of a

:35:13. > :35:17.bridge to these nations and I hope other providers will step in and

:35:18. > :35:24.replace them. But that is difficult because there are no slots available

:35:25. > :35:29.at either Gatwick and Heathrow. We often talk about aviation policy in

:35:30. > :35:34.this house but in a post-Brexit world we need collectivity. We're 30

:35:35. > :35:40.years behind where we should be. -- collectivity. We should not only

:35:41. > :35:44.have a third runway at Heathrow but a second at Gatwick and others. When

:35:45. > :35:52.I see what other countries are doing it aviation I am ashamed at a

:35:53. > :35:55.perfect heartedness. The decision taken by Barclays Bank to sell the

:35:56. > :36:02.trading arm should be seen as a national scandal. They had been in

:36:03. > :36:06.Africa for over 100 years and the brand is beyond compare and because

:36:07. > :36:11.of legislation passed in this very house they are sending away one of

:36:12. > :36:23.the great connections and that harms a great brand of UK plc. My Lords,

:36:24. > :36:29.if I can finish with the idea and idea discussed with Lord Howell and

:36:30. > :36:36.I also took up with the current Minister Commonwealth about the

:36:37. > :36:48.Commonwealth Bank. It could unite the Commonwealth. The Queen

:36:49. > :36:52.Elizabeth Commonwealth Bank. More fittingly -- collective organisation

:36:53. > :36:57.binds places together and we already have the World Bank and the European

:36:58. > :37:01.bank, so why not Commonwealth Bank? What I have in mind is something

:37:02. > :37:06.like the Asian infrastructure bank which Britain is founding member of

:37:07. > :37:09.and it could transform economic development across the Commonwealth,

:37:10. > :37:17.supporting major infrastructure projects and possibly lending

:37:18. > :37:23.directly to businesses. Across the Commonwealth book is a huge appetite

:37:24. > :37:27.for new infrastructure investment, roads and energy projects which are

:37:28. > :37:31.all essential to economic development. A Commonwealth Bank

:37:32. > :37:35.would be a great way of demonstrating our commitment to our

:37:36. > :37:39.family and showing Britain is still an outward looking nation. It will

:37:40. > :37:46.help all of its members and in particular the poorest with the

:37:47. > :37:49.means to commit to exploring the idea before the heads of Government

:37:50. > :38:00.meeting next year. The recent Commonwealth trade meeting is a good

:38:01. > :38:04.start. Next year's Commonwealth heads of Government meeting is

:38:05. > :38:07.another excellent opportunity and let us be bold in our approach to

:38:08. > :38:14.the Commonwealth and let us unite around increasing trade, investment

:38:15. > :38:18.and cultural links and that Britain lead the charge for a Commonwealth

:38:19. > :38:24.Bank. It will bring the Commonwealth together for its shared purpose and

:38:25. > :38:32.also be a fitting tribute to Her Majesty's magnificent leadership of

:38:33. > :38:38.that wonderful family of nations. My Lords, we have had a very

:38:39. > :38:48.interesting afternoon with a variety of speeches and variety of issues.