Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Dalai Lama; what topics were discussed in such meetings; and if he will make a statement.

The Dalai Lama is recognised worldwide as a respected religious figure, and it was in this capacity that the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and the Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr Clegg) met him in St Paul’s Cathedral in May 2012. Her Majesty’s Government has had no discussions with the Dalai Lama since this date.

Our position on Tibet is clear and unchanged from that of the previous Government: we regard Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China. We do not support Tibetan independence.