Urgent Debates Declined — Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Sri Lanka—Attendance

I have received a letter from Jan Logie seeking to debate under Standing Order 386 the decision to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka this week, following mounting international pressure. For there to be a particular case of recent occurrence, there must be a new situation of sufficient importance to warrant a debate being held. Although the Prime Minister has this week confirmed his plans to travel to Sri Lanka, I am not convinced that the decision in itself justifies setting aside the business of the House today. The Prime Minister’s attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been known for some time. The Sri Lankan human rights record is an existing situation. There is no new development for which there is ministerial responsibility of significant importance that would warrant a debate being held. The application is therefore declined.