Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Exchange of notes constituting an agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning the availability for defence purposes of the British Indian Ocean Territory, London, 30 December 1966 on the legal status of the Chagos Archipelago, including the term that “The Territory shall remain under United Kingdom sovereignty”.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Agreement between the UK and Mauritius secures the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The Agreement was tested at the highest levels of the United States' security establishment, across multiple agencies, and it has been backed by our key allies and international partners, including the US and all our Five Eyes partners. Talks are ongoing to update the UK-US Exchange of Letters on the operation of the Diego Garcia Base. There are no agreements with the Maldives that would impact the operation of the base.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any extant agreements, notes or exchanges of letters with the government of the Maldives that impact the governance of the British Indian Ocean Territory or the treaty with Mauritius.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Agreement between the UK and Mauritius secures the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The Agreement was tested at the highest levels of the United States' security establishment, across multiple agencies, and it has been backed by our key allies and international partners, including the US and all our Five Eyes partners. Talks are ongoing to update the UK-US Exchange of Letters on the operation of the Diego Garcia Base. There are no agreements with the Maldives that would impact the operation of the base.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have formally requested the consent of the government of Mauritius to publish further details about the trust fund for the Chagossians under the UK–Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As previously stated, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement ahead of ratification on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the Chagossian Trust Fund. We continue to discuss the details of the Trust Fund with Mauritius.
The first meeting of the Chagossian Contact Group, attended by the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025. The Contact Group will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives, and we will continue to discuss ways that engagement may be enhanced. Currently, the Group is made up of two representatives from each of the following groups:
· Chagossian Voices
· UK Chagos Refugees Group
· Chagos Islanders Movement
· Chagos Refugees Group (Mauritius)
· Association Chagossiens de France
· Seychellois Chagossians Committee
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many individuals are members of their Chagossian contact group.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As previously stated, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement ahead of ratification on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the Chagossian Trust Fund. We continue to discuss the details of the Trust Fund with Mauritius.
The first meeting of the Chagossian Contact Group, attended by the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025. The Contact Group will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives, and we will continue to discuss ways that engagement may be enhanced. Currently, the Group is made up of two representatives from each of the following groups:
· Chagossian Voices
· UK Chagos Refugees Group
· Chagos Islanders Movement
· Chagos Refugees Group (Mauritius)
· Association Chagossiens de France
· Seychellois Chagossians Committee
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times their Chagossian contact group has met since its establishment, and on what dates those meetings were held.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As previously stated, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement ahead of ratification on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the Chagossian Trust Fund. We continue to discuss the details of the Trust Fund with Mauritius.
The first meeting of the Chagossian Contact Group, attended by the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025. The Contact Group will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives, and we will continue to discuss ways that engagement may be enhanced. Currently, the Group is made up of two representatives from each of the following groups:
· Chagossian Voices
· UK Chagos Refugees Group
· Chagos Islanders Movement
· Chagos Refugees Group (Mauritius)
· Association Chagossiens de France
· Seychellois Chagossians Committee
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a Minister of the Crown has been present at every meeting of their Chagossian contact group.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As previously stated, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement ahead of ratification on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the Chagossian Trust Fund. We continue to discuss the details of the Trust Fund with Mauritius.
The first meeting of the Chagossian Contact Group, attended by the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025. The Contact Group will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives, and we will continue to discuss ways that engagement may be enhanced. Currently, the Group is made up of two representatives from each of the following groups:
· Chagossian Voices
· UK Chagos Refugees Group
· Chagos Islanders Movement
· Chagos Refugees Group (Mauritius)
· Association Chagossiens de France
· Seychellois Chagossians Committee
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the minutes of the meetings of their Chagossian contact group.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As previously stated, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement ahead of ratification on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the Chagossian Trust Fund. We continue to discuss the details of the Trust Fund with Mauritius.
The first meeting of the Chagossian Contact Group, attended by the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025. The Contact Group will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives, and we will continue to discuss ways that engagement may be enhanced. Currently, the Group is made up of two representatives from each of the following groups:
· Chagossian Voices
· UK Chagos Refugees Group
· Chagos Islanders Movement
· Chagos Refugees Group (Mauritius)
· Association Chagossiens de France
· Seychellois Chagossians Committee
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the list of members of their Chagossian contact group.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
As previously stated, the Government will make a Ministerial Statement ahead of ratification on eligibility for resettlement and the modalities of the Chagossian Trust Fund. We continue to discuss the details of the Trust Fund with Mauritius.
The first meeting of the Chagossian Contact Group, attended by the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025. The Contact Group will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives, and we will continue to discuss ways that engagement may be enhanced. Currently, the Group is made up of two representatives from each of the following groups:
· Chagossian Voices
· UK Chagos Refugees Group
· Chagos Islanders Movement
· Chagos Refugees Group (Mauritius)
· Association Chagossiens de France
· Seychellois Chagossians Committee
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what conditions, criteria and evidence they used to inform the decisions to lift certain sanctions on Syria.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Sanctions Act and the Regulations made under it provides the legal basis for the UK to impose, vary, and revoke sanctions designations and sectoral sanctions. On 25 April the UK lifted sanctions on several sectors, including trade, energy production, transport (aircraft) and finance, in order to reflect the change in circumstances in Syria, facilitate investment and support the Syrian people to rebuild their country and economy. The UK's sanctions regime continues to hold Assad and his associates to account for atrocities committed against the Syrian people. We keep our sanctions regime under review.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers have sought legal advice following the escalation of violence between Israel and Iran.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers receive legal advice as appropriate. It is long-standing practice that Governments of all colours do not disclose the fact that legal advice has or has not been given, nor the content of any such advice. This practice provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in the light of thorough and candid legal advice.