British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Hannan of Kingsclere
Main Page: Lord Hannan of Kingsclere (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Hannan of Kingsclere's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(3 weeks, 2 days ago)
Lords ChamberWe will hear from the Lib Dem Benches now.
The security of the marine conservation area is very important; I think it was Foreign Secretary Miliband who instigated it. We will see it continue, and Mauritius has agreed to that.
My Lords, Mauritius was paid the then immense sum of £3 million in exchange for this agreement in 1965, and treated it as a final settlement. In 1972 it was then paid again, if memory serves, £620,000 for the resettlement of the Chagossians—moneys which I am afraid it hung on to until their value had been eroded by inflation, which may explain why Chagossians are not enthusiastic about Mauritian sovereignty. It does seem extraordinary that we have given away this prime strategic location, the so-called Malta of the Indian Ocean, not only for nothing but somehow managing to pay for the privilege. I think I have heard three or four Ministers today talk about this black hole. Is it really credible, when we are hearing about that, that the Government will not disclose either what we are paying to the Mauritians or what we are putting in the fund for Chagossian resettlement?