Transcript of British MPs questions to British Foreign Office Minister today in the House of Commons

Transcript of House of Commons Question Time regarding the situation in Maldives (28th February 2012)
Answering MP’s questions is Alistair Burt, Foreign Office Minister
“Question 12 Mr. Speaker”
Alistair Burt: Thank you Mr. Speaker. We remain concerned and unclear about the events of the 7th of February in which power transferred from President Nasheed to the Vice President. We welcome an independent inquiry into those events and we strongly support the efforts of the Indian government and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in seeking to secure early elections by the end of this year.
MP Caroline Nokes: I thank the Minister for that response. I wonder if he could give any indication as to what progress the government has made in securing a date for the early elections following the transfer of power.
Alistair Burt: Well I can tell my honourable friend that so far it has not been possible to secure a date from the new administration. We remain absolutely convinced that an early date for elections is essential and a date by the end of this year. We will continue to support efforts of the Commonwealth and international partners to secure this.
MP Karen Lumley: Given that we haven’t got any firm date for an election in the Maldives, will the Minister assure the House that the government is looking very closely at any invitations being sent to an unelected Commonwealth President, for the Queen’s Silv-Diamond jubilee?
Alistair Burt: Well the Honourable lady has taken down a route which we will have to wait and see what happens. We’re quite sure that we need answers from the administration as to what has happened. I’m in regular contact, both with the former Vice President, and former President Nasheed, who I spoke to less than a couple of hours ago. We do watch this situation extremely carefully. There are questions still to be answered if the situation is to be regularized as far as the United Kingdom is concerned.