Chris Elmore

It is always a pleasure to see the shadow Foreign Secretary in his place. It is nice that he checked Wikipedia to see when I was born. The statement is about CHOGM, so while it was nice that he took a canter through the various continents of the world, may I take him back to the substantive point? I set out in quite significant detail the success of the CHOGM summit. The right hon. Gentleman is right to raise the importance of the impact on China—that is the whole point of the structured dialogue. Part of the challenge is about the influence of China around these continents and in these countries. To have constructive dialogue, we need to accept our past, work through it and look forward to the future. I think he would almost agree with me on that very point. [Interruption.] He had his chance and he did not ask that question. If we are to look for improved influence and at better infrastructure investment to allow British industry to influence and develop across the Caribbean and Africa, that piece of work will be crucial in the months and years ahead. It is always nice to debate with the right hon. Gentleman, and I am sure we will do so again in the months and years ahead. As I have huge respect for the House, I will explain one further point: the Foreign Secretary is at G7 meetings in France; I am delighted that I have the confidence of the Prime Minister to address the House on one of my areas of responsibility, which include the Commonwealth.