§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ministerial contacts there have been since 1997 with Commonwealth countries suspended from membership. [11440]
§ Mr. BradshawThe only country suspended from Commonwealth membership in this period was Nigeria, whose suspension began in 1995 and ended in June 1999 when democratic government was restored. EU and other sanctions prevented Ministerial contact between the UK and the Abacha regime between 1995 and June 1998. Ministerial contacts resumed after the death of Abacha. Currently, Pakistan and Fiji are suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth: Pakistan since October 1999 and Fiji since June 2000.