Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Government expects to conclude revised negotiations with the Mauritian Government on the future of the Chagos Islands.

The negotiations with Mauritius have been ongoing for over two years.

On 20 December the UK and Mauritius issued a joint public statement which made clear that Mauritius and the UK have held a series of productive, ongoing conversations and exchanges on finalising a historic Treaty on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.

Both countries reiterated their commitment to finalising a treaty as quickly as possible, whose terms will agree to ensure the long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia and that Mauritius is sovereign over the Archipelago.