Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department has to allocate funds from the £40 million package for Chagossians living in the UK to help with financial issues caused by the covid-19 pandemic.

The Chagossian Support Package is discretionary Government funding to address the most pressing needs of the Chagossian community in the UK and overseas by improving access to health and social care and to improved education and employment opportunities. It is not intended to help with the immediate financial issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are other UK Government financial support schemes to provide assistance to businesses and individuals affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdown.