Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) implications for his policies of the candidates seeking appointment as the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

HMG is considering each candidate seriously in line with the UK's priorities. Who will be the next Secretary-General is a decision for Commonwealth Heads of Government to make by consensus at CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in Samoa, in October.