Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assistance his Department provides to the Commonwealth Business Council; and if he will make a statement. [71786]

Mark Prisk MP; Minister of State (Business and Enterprise): This Department's work with the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) is principally through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). Their complementary work means that UKTI and the CBC keep each other informed regarding their activities, and that they co-operate where appropriate. For example, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, will be a keynote speaker at the CBC's Commonwealth Business Forum in Perth, Western Australia in October 2011, and UKTI was an official partner for CBC's Power Summit 2011 (conference on the energy sector in March 2011).