International Marine Protected Area: Sargasso Sea

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Monday 6th July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I think soft power can be very impactful, and you do not always need hard power to get what you want in the world, thank goodness. This is about oceans beyond national jurisdiction, so it needs—it will not work unless there is—joint agreement and an agreed way forward on what you do to protect a particular area. That implementation work of which areas, who is responsible and who is going to do what is still to be negotiated ahead of the first conference in 2027.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

When I was listening to the Opposition Front Bench, I was trying to recall who it was who first suggested the transfer of Diego Garcia to Mauritius. Perhaps my noble friend could remind me and the House but, above all, the opposition spokesperson who it was.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Now that my noble friend asks me, I believe I am correct in saying that there were 12, 13 or 14 rounds of negotiations undertaken by the previous Conservative Government on the future of the Chagos Archipelago.