UK-India Relations

Gregor Poynton, the Labour MP for Livingston, asked the Foreign Secretary, Mr David Lammy, about his recent discussions with his Indian counterpart to strengthen UK-India relations. Mr Lammy responded that he had met with the Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr Jaishankar, in Delhi on 24 July, and they discussed how to unlock the potential of the UK-India relationship for economic growth and to develop a stronger, deeper partnership. Mr Lammy also mentioned that he was pleased to launch the tech and security initiative, which brings together businesses across the two countries. Poynton agreed that getting the UK-India relations right over the next four or five years would be hugely beneficial for both countries, and he asked the Foreign Secretary if he agreed that the signing of the technology and security initiative within a month of taking office showed that the government was working internationally to drive the economy and secure the country. Mr Lammy responded that the Trade Secretary had announced the government's intention to continue trade talks with India just the previous day, and that there was more that could be done to reduce barriers between the two countries. Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow East, noted that the previous government had made significant progress towards a free trade agreement with India, but it had stalled due to the Indian general election and the UK general election. He asked the Foreign Secretary to update the House on his discussions to remove the remaining sticking points and unlock the free trade deal that both sides of the House wanted to see. Mr Lammy disagreed slightly with Blackman, stating that the previous government had set a timetable to have a trade agreement by Diwali, but that had not been achieved. He was pleased that the Trade Secretary had set out that the government would continue the negotiations, and that these issues had come up in his discussions in Delhi. Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, welcomed the Foreign Secretary's visit to India to discuss a trade agreement, and noted that the Labour party had regularly called for human rights to be part of that UK-India trade deal. She asked the Foreign Secretary to update the House on whether he had secured such an agreement during his visit. Kearns also welcomed the fact that the Foreign Secretary had raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British national whom the UN has determined to be arbitrarily detained, with reports that he was subject to torture. She asked the Foreign Secretary to confirm that he still believes Jagtar is being arbitrarily detained, to publicly call for his release, and to meet with Jagtar's family, as Lord Cameron had done. Finally, she asked when the Foreign Secretary would announce the appointment of a special envoy for Britain's wrongly detained abroad, as recommended by the Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr Lammy responded that this was a very serious case, and that he remained absolutely committed to pushing for faster progress and resolving the issue. He confirmed that he had raised the case with the Indian Minister of External Affairs the previous week, and that he would continue to raise concerns about allegations of torture and the right to a fair trial. Lammy also stated that he would meet with Jagtar's family in the coming weeks.