§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on(a) trade with and (b) investment in Burma by companies registered in the United Kingdom or their overseas subsidiaries. [125668]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Ann McKechin) on 25 June 2003,Official Report, column 1042W, the British 159W Government do not encourage trade with or investment in Burma while the regime continues to suppress the basic human rights of its people. We offer no support for companies wishing to trade with Burma or for those who want to invest there. Representatives of British companies or their subsidiaries that inquire about the prospects, either for trade with or investment in Burma, are informed of this policy. I met the Chairman of British American Tobacco, Mr. Marlin Broughton on 2 July 2003. BAT are the only major British investor in Burma. They run a partnership with the business arm of Burma's military directorship, the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings. I asked Mr. Broughton to consider withdrawing their investment.