Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with Secretary Blinken on a range of issues, including the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago. The agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the archipelago is strongly supported by our partners, including the US. President Biden, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin all released statements shortly after the announcement praising the deal for securing the operational future of the joint US-UK facility on Diego Garcia.
Mentions:
1: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Con - North Cotswolds) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
2: David Lammy (Lab - Tottenham) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
3: David Lammy (Lab - Tottenham) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
4: Andrew Griffith (Con - Arundel and South Downs) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
5: David Lammy (Lab - Tottenham) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
6: Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent West) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
7: Emily Thornberry (Lab - Islington South and Finsbury) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
8: Andrew Mitchell (Con - Sutton Coldfield) Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 7857 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, how much funding he plans to allocate to that new trust fund.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise the importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians and we have worked to ensure this agreement reflects their interests. The government will endeavour to provide Parliament with appropriate details about the new trust fund for Mauritius in support of Chagossians, including additional support for Chagossians in the UK when the Treaty is laid before Parliament.
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 he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over Diego Garcia on existing agreements on (a) nuclear capabilities and (b) other matters governing the operation of the UK-US base.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with Secretary Blinken on a range of issues, including the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago.
We look forward to continuing to engage with the current and incoming US Administrations in the usual way to protect and enhance our shared security interests.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Maldives Government to discuss the future of the Chagos Islands since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met which representative of the Maldives on each such occasion.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary met Maldives Foreign Minister Khaleel at the Commonwealth Heads of Government on 25 October. They discussed a range of issues, including matters relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Minister West also spoke with Foreign Minister Khaleel virtually on 14 October and met with the Maldivian High Commissioner on 30 September.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Maldives Government to discuss the future of the Chagos Islands since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met which representative of the Maldives on each such occasion.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is the lead Department for the international and community engagements in regards to the sovereignty negotiations. The Foreign Secretary met Maldives Foreign Minister Khaleel at the Commonwealth Heads of Government on 25 October. They discussed a range of issues, including matters relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Minister West also spoke with Foreign Minister Khaleel virtually on 14 October and met with the Maldivian High Commissioner on 30 September.
Asked by: Mark Francois (Conservative - Rayleigh and Wickford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7499 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, what right of (a) access, (b) inspection and (c) veto the Mauritian Government will have to the Chagos base.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Our primary goal throughout negotiations was to protect the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security.
The operation of the base will continue unchanged with strong protections from malign influence. For the first time in over 50 years the base will be undisputed and legally secure.
Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department will receive additional funding to cover any additional costs arising from the Chagos Island settlement.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government.
The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years.
Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date he agreed his Department’s contribution to the Chagos Island settlement.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago were opened in 2022 under the previous Government.
The lead Department for the negotiations was the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence was closely updated and engaged in all the key aspects of the negotiations. The agreement secured with Mauritius protects the effective operation of the joint UK/US base on Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years.
Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature. It would be inappropriate to release further details at this stage.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of asylum seekers who will be moved from the Chagos Islands to St Helena, and over what period.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The new Memorandum of Understanding with St Helena only applies to any new migrants who arrive from the date of the arrangement until the UK's agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago comes into force or 18 months have passed. This will not affect any migrants currently on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). This is a contingency arrangement and no new migrants have arrived on BIOT since 2022.