Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61738 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, which Department will fund costs arising from the function of the Joint Commission; and whether his Department has discussed appointment to the Commission with potential candidates.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The payments will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Ministry of Defence.

As is clear from paragraph 2 of Annex 3, both the UK and Mauritius shall appoint one senior representative as co-chair of the Joint Commission and four additional representatives. The terms of reference of the Joint Commission will be finalised in the coming months, well ahead of entry into force.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department plans to answer Question 60828, tabled on 18 June 2025.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

My response to Question 60828 was returned on 02 July.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question 59988, tabled on 16 June 2025.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I responded to the right hon. Member on 3 July 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 61737, tabled on 23 June 2025.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member's question. I issued a response to the hon. Member on 3 July.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question 62175, tabled on 24 June 2025.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I will respond to the right hon. Member shortly.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent former IRA members from claiming damages from the Government, in the context of the document entitled A proposal for a Remedial Order to amend the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation Act) 2023, published on 4 December 2024.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

I refer to the answer given last week to the Honourable Member for Stockton North (UIN 63126). The main issue here is the application of the Carltona principle in the context of ICOs. The previous Government’s attempt to address this following the 2020 Supreme Court judgment in Adams has been found by the Northern Ireland courts to be unlawful and we need to find a better way of reaffirming this principle.

The Government will therefore legislate to address this issue in forthcoming primary legislation.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to lay the draft Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 (Remedial) Order.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

On 4 December 2024, the Government laid a proposal for a draft Remedial Order to amend the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.

The Government has been carefully considering responses received including from the Joint Committee on Human Rights and other stakeholders and will respond to their report as quickly as possible.