Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Burmese government on a ceasefire in conflict zones and the withdrawal of military forces.

We are supporting the continued peace talks between the Burmese government and ethnic armed groups and the agreement to work towards a nationwide ceasefire and political dialogue. However, we remain concerned by continued fighting in Kachin State and Northern Shan State, and reports of human rights violations.

I discussed the peace process with the Burmese government and the military Commander in Chief during my visit to Burma in January 2014, and in Kachin with the army's Northern Commander and ethnic and religious leaders. Our Ambassador in Rangoon regularly raises both our concerns and our support for a sustainable peace through ceasefire and political dialogue with Burmese government ministers, officials and ethnic leaders.