Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has received representations from the British Chagossian community on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has not received representations from either the British or Mauritian Chagossian community on the subject of the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. We recognise the future of the islands is an important issue for many Chagossians. FCDO officials regularly engage with different Chagossian groups on a range of issues and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his American counterpart on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with Secretary Blinken on a range of issues, including the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago. Protecting the effective operation and vital role of the joint UK/US military facility on Diego Garcia remains our shared objective.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has received representations from the Mauritian Chagossian community on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has not received representations from either the British or Mauritian Chagossian community on the subject of the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. We recognise the future of the islands is an important issue for many Chagossians. FCDO officials regularly engage with different Chagossian groups on a range of issues and will continue to do so.
Mentions:
1: Andrew Rosindell (Con - Romford) overseas territory of Gibraltar and its people? - Speech Link
2: Anneliese Dodds (LAB - Oxford East) the British Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
3: Andrew Mitchell (Con - Sutton Coldfield) the British Indian Ocean Territory. - Speech Link
4: Sammy Wilson (DUP - East Antrim) territory, successive British Governments have shown, whether with Northern Ireland or now with Gibraltar - Speech Link
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Reform UK - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Leader of the House on a holding a debate on the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The agreement announced by the UK and Mauritius on 3 October concerning the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago is subject to the finalisation of a treaty. Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise the detail of the Treaty prior to ratification, in the usual way.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he expects negotiations with Mauritius on the (a) sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and (b) return of Chagossians who wish to resettle will conclude.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 3 October the UK and Mauritius reached a political agreement on the sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) / Chagos Archipelago. This agreement secures the effective operation of the vital UK-US military base on Diego Garcia well into the next century. Following Mauritian elections, the Government will seek Treaty signature and ratification when Parliamentary time allows. Under this agreement Mauritius will be free to implement a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine. Mauritius and the UK will also now work to start a new programme of visits to the Chagos Archipelago for Chagossians.Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he expects to conclude negotiations with Mauritius on the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met the Mauritian Prime Minister on 23 July and committed to continuing negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. It is too early to speculate on timelines or conclusions, but it is the Government's priority to resolve this long standing and important issue, including ensuring the long-term secure and effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia and other key issues. As appropriate, we will continue to engage with all relevant parties including the Chagossian diaspora.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he held meetings with representatives of the Chagossian community in the period between his appointment as Foreign Secretary and 7 October 2024.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As Minister for the Overseas Territories, I have met with members of the Chagossian community twice since the election. The Foreign Secretary has not yet had the opportunity to do so. We recognise the importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians and we have put their interests at the heart of this Agreement. Under this agreement, Mauritius will (for the first time) be free to develop a resettlement programme on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. We will also finance a new trust fund for Mauritius in support of Chagossians, as well as increase our support to Chagossians in the UK and around the world, through new and existing projects. All Chagossians remain eligible for British citizenship & to make home in UK. Mauritius and the UK will now work to start a new programme of visits for Chagossians to the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia.
Mentions:
1: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Con - Life peer) strategic relationship with the United States of America of the decision to cede sovereignty of the British - Speech Link
2: Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab - Life peer) situation was getting to a point where legal rulings had made it clear that the sovereignty of the Chagos - Speech Link
3: Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab - Life peer) until they were discovered by the Portuguese, then colonised by the French, then taken over by the British - Speech Link
Asked by: Kit Malthouse (Conservative - North West Hampshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory direct ministerial appointments excluding special advisers he has made; and (i) who the appointee was and (ii) what the (A) remuneration, (B) title and (C) terms of reference was for each appointment.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has made one direct ministerial appointment to date. Jonathan Powell has been appointed as the Prime Minister's Envoy for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago Sovereignty Negotiation with Mauritius. Jonathan Powell's experience on the most sensitive international issues makes him uniquely qualified to carry out this role. His appointment was announced on Gov.uk on 6 September. The full statement can be found here: [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jonathan-powell-appointed-as-special-envoy-for-biot-negotiations].