Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of whether the Rohingya refugees who may be returned to Burma from Bangladesh will be subject to refoulement to camps where they may be held indefinitely.

The Government has been clear throughout the current crisis that the Rohingya refugees who have fled into Bangladesh must be able to return to their homes in Burma safely, voluntarily and in dignity, and under international monitoring.

The UK proposed and secured a UN Security Council Presidential Statement on 6 November which called on the Governments of Burma and Bangladesh to ensure these conditions are met.

Burma and Bangladesh signed an agreement to repatriate refugees on 23 November which stated that all returns would be safe, voluntary and in dignity. The UK has since made representations to both governments to implement these commitments. We have also specifically lobbied Burma to allow UNHCR involvement in the repatriation process, most recently in the British Ambassador's meeting with the Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor on 11 January.

The UK will continue to work with our international partners to ensure any returns take place in line with international norms and under international monitoring. This will assist in making their return as safe and timely as possible.