Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of differences between the (a) former State Administrative Council and (b) current State Security and Peace Commission in Myanmar as instruments of the Burmese military regime; and for what policy reason the sanctioning of the former body has not been carried forward to apply to its successor.  [115781]

[Due for Answer on 2 March. Answered on 3 March.]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific (Seema Malhotra): The UK Government uses sanctions to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We consider designations under our sanctions regimes, including the Myanmar Sanctions Regulations, as guided by the evidence and the objectives of the sanctions regime. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.