HL Deb 14 February 2001 vol 622 c40WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, as members of the Commonwealth High Level Review Group, they will seek to ensure that the group recommends to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Brisbane in October 2001 that the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group's mandate should be extended to cover states where, in the opinion of the CMAG, there is a threat to freedom of expression. [HL595]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The Government believe that the right to freedom of expression should be one of the Commonwealth's core values. We will continue to seek to ensure that the High Level Review Group recommends to Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Brisbane in 2001 that the mandate of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group is expanded to cover serious violations of that right.