Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Rohingya Muslims are able to vote in the forthcoming election in Burma.

We continue to make clear to the Burmese authorities our concerns about the status and vulnerability of former white card holders, and the risk of the Rohingya being disenfranchised from the elections. We have stressed the need for a clear process to replace these documents, as well as a transparent, inclusive and consistent process in establishing the status of inhabitants of Rakhine State. Regardless of citizenship status, the human rights of all individuals in Rakhine must be fully respected. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has made these very points to senior members of the Burmese government over the last few days during his visit there.