Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the capacity and track record of the Government of Mauritius to manage marine protected areas, as part of the preparation, development and due diligence of the negotiations over the future of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The Government considered a range of factors relevant to the future environmental and marine protection of the British Indian Ocean Territory during negotiations with Mauritius. Mauritius committed to ensure the marine environment would be effectively protected under a future Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area (MPA). Under the terms of the Agreement, the UK agreed it would support Mauritius in the establishment and management of any future MPA.