Written question asked by Andrew Dismore (Labour) on Monday, 22 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 February 2010. It was answered by Michael John Foster (Labour) on Monday, 1 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Sri Lanka: EU External Trade

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on the suspension of Sri Lanka's GSP+ trade preference scheme status; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Department for International Development (DFID) fully supports the EU's decision to remove GSP+ trade preferences from Sri Lanka. Failure to implement core human rights conventions in Sri Lanka is unacceptable and the European Commission's report into these failures made the decision a straightforward one. I understand the importance of GSP+ to the Sri Lankan economy and I hope the EU's decision will encourage the government to take necessary action to implement its human rights obligations under GSP+.The Foreign Secretary released a written ministerial statement to Parliament on 23 February 2010, Official Report, columns 36-38WS, outlining recent developments in the political and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, including the UK position on GSP+.

Secondary information