Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether discussions her Department has had with the Government of Indonesian on the UK-Indonesia Economic Growth Partnership has included the clearance of indigenous peoples’ rainforests for food estates in Merauke District in Indonesian New Guinea.

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We raise issues affecting indigenous people through ongoing diplomatic engagement on international human rights commitments. The Economic Growth Partnership with Indonesia reaffirms commitments to protect and restore primary forests, peatlands, and related ecosystems, reduce deforestation, and respect the rights of workers, local communities and customary law communities.

Growing trading relationships help enable open conversations, including on human rights. As signatories to the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, the UK and Indonesia are committed to working to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.