Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what his Department's policy is on the transfer of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.

The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries would ensure the continued effective operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a vital role in regional and global security. The UK and Mauritius are close Commonwealth partners and negotiations include increasing our cooperation on matters of shared interest in the region and more broadly. The UK will only enter into an agreement that protects our national interests and those of our partners.