§ Keith VazTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting at Chequers with the Prime Minister of India; and when he next plans to visit India. [79930]
§ The Prime MinisterI met the Indian Prime Minister on 12 October 2002. We had a wide-ranging discussion of international and bilateral issues. I stressed the importance of the bilateral relationship and welcomed the progress made on implementing the New Delhi Declaration signed during my visit to India in January454W this year. I also reiterated the UK's support for India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council. I congratulated Mr. Vajpayee on the successful Jammu and Kashmir elections. We discussed next steps in the region. I also raised the consular cases of Ian Stillman, Peter Bleach and the British citizens killed in Gujarat earlier this year.
I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 28 October 2002, Official Report, column 604W.
I currently have no plans to visit India.