Oral Answers to Questions

Gagan Mohindra Excerpts
Tuesday 25th February 2025

(1 day, 20 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gagan Mohindra Portrait Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)
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6. What assessment he has made of the potential security implications of the proposed UK-Mauritius treaty on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Lee Anderson Portrait Lee Anderson (Ashfield) (Reform)
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13. What his planned timetable is for the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos islands to Mauritius.

Stephen Doughty Portrait The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Stephen Doughty)
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We remain committed to concluding a deal that protects the base on Diego Garcia. Without a deal, the base cannot operate in practical terms as it should in its important role protecting the security of this country, the United States and our allies. We are currently discussing the agreement with the US and Mauritius. We will not put a deadline on its finalisation, and will come to the House in due course.

Gagan Mohindra Portrait Mr Mohindra
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The Labour party’s determination to give away vital strategic territory in the Chagos islands, seemingly to satisfy one of the Prime Minister’s lawyer friends over our American allies, is baffling to my colleagues on the Conservative Benches. Does the Minister agree that it is far more important to maintain our special relationship with the US and the new Trump Administration than to pay billions of pounds in the face of the self-inflicted, worsening domestic economic situation, in order to give the Chinese Government access to that vital region?

Stephen Doughty Portrait Stephen Doughty
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There are so many things in the hon. Gentleman’s question that I disagree with that I do not know quite where to start. We are not giving away the base on Diego Garcia—the deal secures that base. If there was not a problem with its operation and its future, why did his Government start negotiations on it?