Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the Foreign Secretary has met Chagossian groups and representatives since 5 July 2024, and on what dates.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK Government regularly meets Chagossian groups and representatives at both official and Ministerial levels, with the Minister for the Overseas Territories the Ministerial lead for Chagossian interests and outreach. The Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for Europe, North America & UK Overseas Territories have had one meeting with Chagossian groups since 5 July 2024, on 22 May 2025.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government from which departmental budget payments to Mauritius regarding the Chagos Islands will be paid.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The costs associated with the deal will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) staff have been assigned to work on negotiations or policy for the Chagos Islands agreement with Mauritius, including staff reassigned from other teams; what are the salary bands of those staff; and how many staff have been seconded to the FCDO from other departments for that work.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
It would be difficult to assess how many officials are working on these issues, given that we do not record and measure the amount of time spent on any one topic where an official covers a range of matters.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in the Taiwan Strait.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by people on both sides of the Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We are concerned by any activity that risks destabilising the status quo and have stated this alongside our G7 partners, including in the most recent G7 Foreign Ministers' statement.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their position on the sovereignty of British Antarctic Territory.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has no doubt about our sovereignty over the British Antarctic Territory. It is the oldest territorial claim in Antarctica, dating back to 1908. The UK is also fully committed to the Antarctic Treaty, 1959. The UK maintains a permanent presence in Antarctica through the British Antarctic Survey, who operate three scientific stations, and the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, who manage the historic base at Port Lockroy. The Royal Navy's Ice Patrol Ship is deployed to Antarctica during the austral summer, reaffirming our sovereignty over the British Antarctic Territory and monitoring compliance with the Antarctic Treaty.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government from which law firms and individuals they have commissioned external legal advice in relation to negotiations over the Chagos Islands since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government has sought external legal advice at various times throughout the negotiations with Mauritius. The specific counsel instructed has depended on the nature of the legal issues involved. Counsel has a professional obligation not to accept instructions where there is a conflict of interest.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to defend UK interests in the Arctic and High North regions.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government is actively promoting the UK's interests in the Arctic and High North. in my recent visit to Norway and Iceland, including to the Arctic Circle Assembly, I set out the Government's commitment to a secure, stable, and sustainable region that protects our longstanding and enduring interests, guided by the UK's Arctic Policy Framework. I also met with representatives of Arctic States and Indigenous People to discuss shared challenges and opportunities to deepen collaboration. I have established a cross-Government Ministerial Group on the Polar Regions to help co-ordinate and deliver UK policy. I regularly engage with counterparts from across the Arctic region to discuss our shared commitments on security, defence, science, climate change and nature.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 12 November 2024 (HL2064), whether they intend to publish the (1) annual, and (2) total, amount of funding they have agreed to provide to Mauritius in their agreement to transfer sovereignty of British Indian Ocean Territory to that country.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
A financial element was crucial to securing the agreement between the UK and Mauritius on 3 October. It is not normal practice to release costs of overseas bases. Further details of the Treaty will be put before both Houses for scrutiny, after signature and before ratification, in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is its timeline for the agreement and ratification of a treaty with Mauritius on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory, and whether they still plan to pursue ratification of such a treaty in 2025.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
On 20 December, the UK and Mauritian governments released a joint statement reiterating their commitment to finalising a treaty as quickly as possible. The timetable for treaty ratification has not yet been confirmed. However, following signature, the Treaty will be laid before Parliament in the usual way, consistent with the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CraG) Act 2010. The Government also intends to bring forward a Bill to implement the Treaty in domestic law.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had between Ministers and officials, and Chagossian groups and representatives, between 5 July and 3 October; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories met with members of the Chagossian community twice between 5 July and 3 October 2024. Officials also routinely speak to Chagossians. Discussions covered a range of issues. There are a large number of Chagossian groups with a wide spectrums of views in the UK and internationally. We will continue efforts to engage all groups or representatives with an interest.