Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the report in the Daily Telegraph, ‘Chagos supply mission ‘thwarted by officials’’ published on 11 April, what role, if any, the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory had in authorising the prevention of humanitarian items, such as bed linen and mosquito nets, from entering Peros Banhos.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultations the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory has held with Chagossians, including those currently resident on Peros Banhos since December 2024.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory last visited Peros Banhos; and when he next plans to visit that island.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government who appointed Nishi Dholakia as the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory; and to whom he is accountable.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) last visited the BIOT.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that opposition parties in Nigeria are being subjected to sustained litigation, judicial injunctions and candidate recognition disputes ahead of the 2027 presidential elections; and what discussions they have had with the government of Nigeria about the protection of full opposition participation.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The State Visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership across growth, security, migration, and foreign policy. As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria has an important role to play in upholding democratic norms, including ensuring a free, fair and credible Presidential election in 2027.The UK is supporting key legislative and institutional reform processes in the Nigerian National Assembly, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Judiciary and other key institutions to strengthen Nigeria's democracy. On the issue of violence against Christian communities, I refer the Hon Member to the written ministerial statement published on 27 November 2025 (HCWS1105).
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the importance of free and fair presidential elections in Nigeria in 2027 to (1) Nigeria's democratic stability, (2) regional security in West Africa, and (3) the UK's strategic and economic interests; and what steps they are taking with the government of Nigeria to support those objectives.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The State Visit provided an important opportunity to strengthen the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership across growth, security, migration, and foreign policy. As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria has an important role to play in upholding democratic norms, including ensuring a free, fair and credible Presidential election in 2027.The UK is supporting key legislative and institutional reform processes in the Nigerian National Assembly, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Judiciary and other key institutions to strengthen Nigeria's democracy. On the issue of violence against Christian communities, I refer the Hon Member to the written ministerial statement published on 27 November 2025 (HCWS1105).
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the status of the Ponsonby Rule as a constitutional convention.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Ponsonby Rule on treaty scrutiny was put on a statutory footing by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The Act requires treaties subject to ratification to be laid before Parliament for 21 sitting days.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any amendments to the 1966 Exchange of Notes between the UK and the USA in respect of the British Indian Ocean Territory will be subject to parliamentary approval under Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Once an updated agreement with the US has been finalised, we will set out the process for bringing that agreement into force, according to the appropriate procedures.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers have instructed officials to act in accordance with the terms of the 2025 UK-Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia as though it had been ratified.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
No.