Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories on 5 February 2025, Official Report, col 760, on the future use of the electromagnetic spectrum, what discussions he has had with the International Telecommunications Union on this matter; and by what process the ITU could change the UK’s access.

The government does not routinely disclose private discussions with any organisation, nor disclose legal advice it may have received. International organisations, including UN Specialised Agencies such as the International Telecommunication Union, would be required to apply a binding judgment that the UK was not sovereign over the British Indian Ocean Territory. This would have real-world impacts on the protection and security of the base including our ability to operate the electromagnetic spectrum undisturbed.