Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which officials were involved in discussions regarding the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena; and whether the Governor of St Helena was involved in those discussions.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Immigration is a matter for the St Helena Government. The St Helena Government is responsible for local consultation.

Ministers from the FCDO and Home Office have worked closely with the Chief Minister and the St Helena Government, including the Governor. This agreement was welcomed by the St Helena Government in a public statement following the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had, if any, with the St Helena Legislative Council regarding the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Immigration is a matter for the St Helena Government. The St Helena Government is responsible for local consultation.

Ministers from the FCDO and Home Office have worked closely with the Chief Minister and the St Helena Government, including the Governor. This agreement was welcomed by the St Helena Government in a public statement following the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding.

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.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to place in the Library of the House all correspondence between the Governor of St Helena and officials and Ministers regarding the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Copies of the Memorandum of Understanding and supporting correspondence from the Minister or the Overseas Territories have been deposited in the library of both Houses. The St Helena Government have also published both documents on their website at www.sainthelena.gov.sh.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend applications of asylum seekers moved from the Chagos Islands to St Helena to be processed while they are on St Helena, and over what timescale.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Immigration is a matter for the St Helena Government. The St Helena Government will be responsible for processing any asylum claims and for the timescale by which any claims are resolved. The UK Government will provide technical support to help develop capacity and capability in St Helena's immigration department.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they made an assessment of the impact on public services on St Helena of the decision to move asylum seekers who arrive in the Chagos Islands to St Helena; and if so, whether they intend to publish that assessment.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is working to support the Saint Helena Government to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for any migrants who may arrive. If the St Helena Government considers that a migrant presents a danger to the security of St Helena, they may refuse entry to that individual. A copy of the recent MoU between the UK and St Helena has been placed in the libraries of both houses.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what security and policing assessment has been conducted regarding the decision to move asylum seekers from the Chagos Islands to St Helena with respect to the latter.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is working to support the Saint Helena Government to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for any migrants who may arrive. If the St Helena Government considers that a migrant presents a danger to the security of St Helena, they may refuse entry to that individual. A copy of the recent MoU between the UK and St Helena has been placed in the libraries of both houses.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what accommodation will be provided to house asylum seekers relocated from the Chagos Islands to St Helena.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is working to support the Saint Helena Government to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for any migrants who may arrive. If the St Helena Government considers that a migrant presents a danger to the security of St Helena, they may refuse entry to that individual. A copy of the recent MoU between the UK and St Helena has been placed in the libraries of both houses.

Found: 3.00pm Private Meeting 5 November 10.30am – 1.00pm Promoter’s Opening: Christopher Katkowski KC Lord

Found: LORD ROBOROUGH LORD BLENCATHRA 70_ Clause 6, page 10, line 35, at end insert— “(8A) All fines

Found: LORD ROBOROUGH LORD BLENCATHRA 41_ Clause 2, page 6, line 6, at end insert— “(4) Within 10 days