Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Burmese counterpart on ensuring the safety of foreign aid workers delivering essential assistance to displaced Rohingya Muslims in that country.

We have made clear to the Burmese government that intimidation and threats towards humanitarian staff are unacceptable, and that it is the government's responsibility to ensure there is a secure environment for them to operate. The Burmese government must support humanitarian actors in their access and delivery of aid, freely and quickly, wherever it is needed most.

I personally summoned the Burmese Ambassador on 7 April and called on the Burmese Government (urgently)to restore humanitarian access to all communities in need and to ensure the security of humanitarian aid workers and all communities in Rakhine State. I last raised this issue with Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw on 13 June.