Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 11(1)(b) of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025) and the Exchange of Letters concerning Article 11 of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago, whether beneficiaries of the trust fund established for Chagossians will include (a) British Chagossians and (b) Mauritian citizens; and if he will set out the criteria that will govern the determination of eligibility.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As outlined in the Explanatory Memorandum, the UK will capitalise a Trust Fund established by Mauritius for the benefit of Chagossians. The Mauritian Government will oversee the fund, but the UK will work with them to develop its details during implementation discussions. Separately, Chagossian communities in the UK will continue to benefit from projects delivered by the UK Government.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 4 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), whether the implementation of the Agreement complies with the Treaty of Pelindaba including with respect to Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Kingdom is not a Party to the Pelindaba Treaty, although it is a Party to Protocols I and II. The United Kingdom will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia will continue to comply with its obligations under applicable international law.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 10 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what discussions he has had with his United States counterpart on United States forces at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia prioritising the employment of suitably qualified Mauritian (i) nationals and (ii) companies as contractors.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United States has welcomed the Diego Garcia Base Treaty. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that it "secures the operational capabilities of the base and key US national security interests in the region". We have worked closely with the US in securing this historic Treaty and will continue to work closely in its implementation.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 11 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025) and the Exchange of Letters concerning Article 11 of the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago, which departments will fund the payments for the economic partnership including the (a) annual payments and (b) 25-year development framework grants; and whether these funds will be classified as development aid.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The costs associated with the deal will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. None of the funds will be classed as development aid.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 3(b) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what equipment located in the Chagos archipelago beyond Diego Garcia requires notification to the Government of Mauritius before (a) maintenance and (b) upgrades are conducted; and what procedures will govern the (i) content and (ii) timing of such notifications.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are a range of vital facilities and capabilities on the base on Diego Garcia and the surrounding area that keep Britain safe. We do not discuss these publicly for security reasons.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 4 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what steps he is taking to ensure compliance with international law does not restrict (a) operational capabilities and (b) weapons deployment in Diego Garcia as defined in Article 19 of the Agreement.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The agreement protects the operations on Diego Garcia to ensure the security of the UK and our allies, which is why it has been welcomed by the US and other 5 Eyes partners.
The UK will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia will continue to comply with its international law obligations, as it does on all military bases and all defence operations.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 3(c) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), how the (a) joint management and (b) use of the electromagnetic spectrum in the Chagos Archipelago beyond Diego Garcia will be agreed
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has unrestricted ability to control and manage the electromagnetic spectrum for Diego Garcia and the surrounding 12 nautical miles. Decisions related to the electromagnetic spectrum beyond Diego Garcia will be taken jointly by the UK and Mauritius at the Joint Commision, which is described in Annex 3 of the Treaty. There can be no decisions without UK agreement.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK-Mauritius Treaty on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands will be signed before the House rises for summer recess.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Treaty was signed on 22 May and secures the long-term operation of the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. A copy of the Treaty was deposited in the House and can be found at the following link - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukmauritius-agreement-concerning-the-chagos-archipelago-including-diego-garcia-cs-mauritius-no12025.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 48367, what his Department's timeline is for implementing that robust mechanism review process; what steps his Department is taking to implement it; and which bodies will oversee its implementation.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46691 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he plans to report to Parliament on the programme of resettlement on islands other than Diego Garcia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to his previous Question, 48365.