Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to deepen ties with Commonwealth states after the UK leaves the EU.

The UK has long standing ties with the Commonwealth through our shared history, language, values and legal system. As current Chair-in-Office we continue to work with the Commonwealth Secretariat, member states and the Commonwealth organisations and networks to ensure that the Commonwealth realises its full potential, by promoting democratic values and development, increasing trade, helping tackle global challenges such as extremism and climate change, and standing up for small states. As my Rt Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary set out in his Written Ministerial Statement on 14 January, we are making concrete progress in delivering on commitments made at last year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to enhance security, prosperity, fairness and sustainability.

As part of our commitment to the Commonwealth, the former Foreign Secretary announced last year our intention to open 9 new missions in Commonwealth countries (Lesotho, Eswatini, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu). We expect these missions to open this year. Opening missions in these countries will expand the UK's diplomatic network from 38 to 47 Commonwealth members – a practical demonstration of our ambition and intent to increase the resources which the Government is devoting to Commonwealth member states.