Oral Answers to Questions Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateBlair McDougall
Main Page: Blair McDougall (Labour - East Renfrewshire)Department Debates - View all Blair McDougall's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(1 day, 14 hours ago)
Commons ChamberI have set out the costs very clearly. They average out at £101 million over the course of the deal. That compares very favourably with, for example, what France pays for its military facility in Djibouti. This treaty has been entered into in good faith by the UK and Mauritius, it will be legally binding, and we are absolutely clear that it is compliant with international law and all our other obligations.
When the Foreign Affairs Committee was in Washington recently, we raised the Diego Garcia deal with the Administration. They could not have been more enthusiastic for this deal, because they recognise that it secures our strategic interests in the area. Does the Minister agree that it is perhaps time for Conservative Members to stop playing politics with national defence?