Westminster Hall Thursday 26 January 2012
Human Rights
[Andrew Rosindell in the Chair]
[Relevant documents: Eighth Report of the For eign Affairs Committee, The FCO’ s Human Rights Work 2010-11, HC 964, and the Government ’ s Response, Cm 8169 .]
4 pm
Richard Ottaway (Croydon South) (Con): It is a pleasure to speak for the first time with you in the Chair, Mr Rosindell. As you are a distinguished member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs in your own right, I can think of no one more appropriate to chair this debate.
The Committee has published its report on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s 2010-11 human rights report. I am delighted that we have the chance to debate it today. Human rights are under the spotlight around the globe, so nothing else could be more important to debate. I welcome the Minister to the Front Bench, having seen him in other incarnations today; he is obviously having a busy day. I pat the Foreign Office on the back for its decision to honour its election pledge to continue publishing its annual report on human rights, albeit in a more cost-effective form.
