Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government is making to the Burmese government on ensuring that elections in that country in 2015 are open, free and fair.

The 2015 parliamentary elections will be a watershed for Burma’s road to democracy. We have made clear to the Burmese government that we want to see inclusive and credible elections, underpinned by freedom of expression and respect for human rights. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) most recently discussed the elections with the Minister for Immigration in October, the Minister for Electric Power in July and the Deputy Foreign Minister in June.

The Department for International Development has allocated around £25m over five years to strengthen democratic governance, including support to the elections. UK funding will support the provision of technical advice to the Burmese election commission, voter education and monitoring and observation of the electoral process.