Lords International Relations Committee to quiz official on Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting
Mr Tim Hitchens, Chief Executive of the Cabinet Office Commonwealth Summit Unit, will give evidence to the House of Lords International Relations Committee on Wednesday 10 January ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting which will take place in London in April this year.
The theme of the summit is “Towards a common future”, and will focus on sustainability and climate change, democracy, human rights and human trafficking, terrorism, trade, and investment among other topics.
Following the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the UK, as the hosts, will become ‘Chair-in-Office' of the Commonwealth until 2020.
Appearing at 10.30am Tim Hitchens will be asked questions including:
- What specific outcomes do the Government hope to achieve from (a) the Heads of Government Meeting and (b) the UK's two years of Chair-in-Office?
- What support is the Government giving to the organisation of the Summit and to our relations with the Commonwealth generally?
- What are the priorities for the Commonwealth in the next five years? What can the UK specifically do to support these aims?
- Has the prospect of Brexit altered the Government's approach towards the Commonwealth?
The evidence session will take place at 10.30am in Committee Room 4.
