Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 36635 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, whether he has received proposals from his Mauritian counterpart on a new Mauritian Marine Protected Area (MPA); whether the area for the proposed MPA will be different to the existing MPA; whether a map of the proposed MPA will be published; whether the proposed treaty with Mauritius will contain provisions to (a) ensure a continuity of protection for the existing area covered by the existing MPA once the proposed change in sovereignty takes place, (b) maintain the existing MPA and (c) require Mauritius to implement a new MPA; and if he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of supporting Mauritius in implementing a new MPA.

As per previous PQ answers, the agreement will be supported by an enhanced partnership between the UK and Mauritius on conservation. That enhanced partnership will prioritise high conservation standards, with the UK supporting Mauritius' ambitions to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that protects the globally significant ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago. Further engagement on the details of the MPA will take place as part of the implementation of the Agreement post-signature.