British Indian Ocean Territory (Sovereignty and Constitutional Arrangements) Bill 2024-26

make provision about sovereignty and constitutional arrangements in respect of the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Archipelago; to prohibit the making of payments of public funds to the government of another country in connection with the sovereignty or constitutional arrangements of the British Indian Ocean Territory, unless authorised by Parliament; to require the Secretary of State to consult and engage with British Chagossians in relation to any proposed changes to the sovereignty and constitutional arrangements of the British Indian Ocean Territory; and for connected purposes.

Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill)

What is this Bill?

The British Indian Ocean Territory (Sovereignty and Constitutional Arrangements) Bill is a Presentation Bill tabled by Priti Patel.

Is this Bill currently before Parliament?

Yes. This Bill was introduced on 10 June 2025 and is currently before Parliament.

Whose idea is this Bill?

As a Private Members' Bill, this Bill represents the individual initiative of an MP (Priti Patel), not the Government.

What type of Bill is this?

A Presentation Bill can be tabled by any MP after the fifth Wednesday of the Session. There is no limit to the number of Presentation Bills an individual MP may table.

So is this going to become a law?

Presentation Bills are extremely unlikely to become law. Unless the Bill receives unanimous support from MPs and can pass 2nd Reading in the Commons without debate, it will not proceed further in the Bill process.

Would you like to know more?

See these Glossary articles for more information: Presentation Bill, Private Members Bill, Process of a Bill

Share Bill