Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his counterpart in India; and what issues were discussed at that meeting.

The UK enjoys a lasting, deep and broad partnership with India. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, spoke to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on 22 November about the forthcoming Commonwealth Summit and consular issues. He congratulated India on its re-election to the International Court of Justice. My noble friend the Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, met amongst others, Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister Swaraj and Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar during his visit to Delhi on 23-24 November and reinforced our valuable cooperation on cyber security. I spoke to Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar on 29 November to welcome the acquittal of the six British nationals imprisoned in Chennai and other current consular issues.