To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prevent the Singapore-based MPRL company channelling its new investment in Burma through the British Virgin Islands. (118619)

We are aware of reports that the Singapore-based Myanmar Petroleum Resources Ltd company has reached a production-sharing agreement with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. If these reports are correct, such an agreement would not be in breach of the EU Common Position on Burma, which bans new investment from EU member states in named Burmese state-owned enterprises. This investment ban does not include the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. The EU Common Position has been extended to all British Overseas Territories.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid and assistance the British Embassy in Bangkok gives to (a) Burmese organisations in Thailand and (b) organisations assisting Burmese refugees. (118621)

Our embassy in Bangkok does not provide financial assistance to Burmese organisations in Thailand or organisations assisting Burmese refugees. However, the Department for International Development provides a grant of £1.8 million over three years to the Thai-Burma Border Consortium for assistance to Burmese refugees in camps in Northern Thailand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment the Government have made of whether the human rights situation in Burma is improving or deteriorating. (118622)

We believe the human rights situation in Burma continues to be grave. Serious human rights abuses continue to be committed, particularly in areas of armed conflict. The Burmese people do not enjoy the most basic of human rights, including the right to the freedom of speech and association, democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with counterparts in (a) South Africa, (b) China, (c) Russia, (d) Qatar, (e) Indonesia and (f) Congo to request that they vote in favour of a resolution on Burma. (118630)

The UK co-sponsored the UN Security Council Resolution on Burma which was put to a vote on 12 January. Our UN mission in New York worked closely with all UN Security Council members on the resolution. During these discussions, we made clear our reasons for supporting the resolution and urged Partners that they do the same.