Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the sacking of the journalist Fiona MacGregor from the Myanmar Times newspaper; and whether he has raised the issue of media freedom with the government of Myanmar.

We are aware of Fiona MacGregor's case and the British Embassy in Rangoon has been in touch with her. While Burma has made progress on freedom of the expression since 2012, we continue to have concerns. The outdated legal framework continues to lead to instances of draconian penalties being handed down to journalists. While private media are able to operate, and in general there is editorial freedom, there are also instances of intimidation. The UK has been a leading advocate for media rights in Burma and will continue to press for rights of expression that are fully in line with international norms.