Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the aims and objectives of the Government are in the Caribbean region.

The UK is committed to developing its strong partnership with the Caribbean by working on our shared priorities with Caribbean countries, British Overseas Territories and regional institutions.

These priorities are: supporting the recovery of those affected by last year's hurricanes, climate change and building resilience against hurricanes; ; enhancing regional security; tackling serious and organised crime and strengthening our trading relationship with the countries of CARIFORUM.

To support this work the Foreign Secretary has announced that four new diplomatic posts will be opened in Commonwealth Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines).