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BURMA Questions In Westminster

  Vera Baird (PPS (Rt Hon Charles Clarke, Secretary of State), Home Office)

  How much timber has been imported from Burma in last ten years?

    Dawn Primarolo (Paymaster General, HM Treasury)

   She replied,

   John Bercow (Buckingham, Con)

What is the policy of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department regarding sourcing goods from Burma?

   Elliot Morley

(Minister of State (Climate Change and Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

There are no current economic sanctions or restrictions on sourcing goods from Burma and so it would be inappropriate for my Department to set special contract terms for goods made in Burma.
Government policy on trade with Burma is to offer no support to British companies who want to trade there, informing those who inquire about trade with Burma of the grave political situation, the regime's atrocious record on human rights and record of economic mismanagement. This is in line with the common position on Burma adopted by the EU in 1996 and renewed in 2005.
As far as I am aware there is no evidence to suggest that my Department has purchased any goods from Burma recently.
As far as policy on forestry is concerned, the Government are working closely with the NGO Global Witness on how best to protect Burma's forests. Their recent report, "A Choice for China" calls for a ban on illegally logged timber. It did not, however, support a ban on all timber from Burma in recognition of the complexity of the problem. Instead, Global Witness called for timber companies not to import illegally logged timber, and for the Chinese Government to suspend importation of logs and processed timber across the China-Burma border. This is pending a review of the legality of all logging operations in Kachin state. Global Witness's work has had a significant impact in Burma, and as a result of their highlighting this problem, the State Peace and Development Council and the Chinese Government have taken steps to clamp down on the illegal trade. According to Global Witness, the destructive logging and vast timber trade on the China-Burma border have come to a near halt over the past four months although it is not clear how permanent such moves will be.

   Vera Baird (PPS (Rt Hon Charles Clarke, Secretary of State), Home Office)

What is the value of gems imported from Burma in last five years?

   Dawn Primarolo (Paymaster General, HM Treasury)

  She replied,

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