Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the implications are for his Department's policies of a British judge not sitting on the International Court of Justice.

The incumbent British judge, Sir Christopher Greenwood, remains a Member of the Court until the end of his current term of office in February 2018. His absence will be a great loss to the Court given Sir Christopher’s outstanding record of service to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and to the promotion of international law. His expertise and diligence are recognised by all who have worked with him or been taught by him in the UK and internationally.

Notwithstanding the absence of a British judge on the Court after the end of Sir Christopher’s term, the UK will continue to support the work of the ICJ in line with our commitment to the importance of the rule of law in the UN system and in the international community more generally.

As a founding member of the UN, a permanent member of the Security Council and the UN’s third largest donor, the UK will continue to shape and influence the global agenda for a safer, healthier, more prosperous world.

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