Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Burma regarding that country's presidential elections; and if so, what representations.

As set out in the public document ‘UK Activities in Burma', published in April 2014 (available on our website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-activities-in-burma), the foremost Government priority is to encourage and support Burma to become a more effectively governed and democratic state, holding credible elections in 2015. Ministers and our Ambassador in Rangoon regularly discuss with the Burmese government the prospects for meaningful constitutional change which will enable the 2015 parliamentary elections to reflect the views of the Burmese people, including their choice of president. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised Burma's progress towards democratisation with the Burmese Foreign Minister on 28 April. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), most recently discussed these issues with the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister on 12 June, and our Ambassador discussed the elections with Minister of the President's Office, U Soe Thane, on 17 June.