Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether a Minister authorised UK immigration officers and police to search the yacht No Excuse and seize supplies intended for inhabitants of the Chagos Islands on 11 April; and if so, which one.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

These are operational matters for the British Indian Overseas Territory (BIOT) Authority, discharged under the powers provided in the BIOT (Immigration) Order 2004.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria was used by customs and immigration officers to decide what items should be confiscated from the yacht No Excuse on its way to the Chagos Islands on 11 April.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

These are operational matters for the British Indian Overseas Territory (BIOT) Authority, discharged under the powers provided in the BIOT (Immigration) Order 2004.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials will be visiting Mauritius on 22 April; and what is the purpose of the visit.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK Government keeps in regular contact with our counterparts in Mauritius regarding progress on the implementation of the agreement. We do not intend to provide a running commentary on these conversations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the powers of the Commissioner for the British Indian Overseas Territory.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in response to Questions HL16595-99 on 29 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they most recently met the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory to discuss the settlement of Chagossians on Peros Banhos island.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in response to Questions HL16595-99 on 29 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they last discussed the administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory with the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in response to Questions HL16595-99 on 29 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government to whom the Commissioner of British Indian Overseas Territory reports.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in response to Questions HL16595-99 on 29 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the budget for the Commissioner of the British Indian Overseas Territory.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in response to Questions HL16595-99 on 29 April.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Attorney General has recused himself from advising on (1) all aspects of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, or (2) only those clauses of that Act that prevent payment of compensation to Gerry Adams.

Answered by Lord Hermer - Attorney General

By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 6 November 2024]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.

As I set out to the house in January 2025, there has always been an established rigorous system in place within the Attorney General’s Office to ensure that a Law Officer would not be consulted on any matter that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest. That process sits against the backdrop of every lawyer’s professional obligation to be alert to, and actively manage, any situation that might give rise to a potential or actual conflict.

This process also sits alongside the declaration of interest system overseen by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.