§ 3.11 p.m.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what conclusions were reached in the discussions between them and the displaced community from Diego Garcia when the island was made a military base of the United States of America.
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, discussions were held in London from 29th June to 2nd July with a delegation from Mauritius, including representatives of the Ilois. We regret that we were unable to reach agreement on our further ex-gratia offer of £1.25 million plus £300,000 of associated aid. The present talks have been adjourned. Discussions will, however, continue.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, is not this rather a sad story? Is it not the case that this archipelago in the Indian Ocean was dismembered from Mauritius before Mauritius even had indepencence, with the result that 3,500 people—members of families of fishermen and peasants—were evacuated? Is it not the case that when they reached Mauritius there were no arrange 581 ments for their settlement? Many of them lived in dire poverty and were homeless, and the compensation was absolutely inadequate. Is it not the case that in 1979, when the British Government offered them an additional £1.25 million compensation, it was only on the condition that they would never return to their own country?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, as for the condition of the Ilois in Mauritius at the present time, it is the case that they have received a wide range of assistance from the Mauritius social services since their arrival there. In 1972 the British Government paid £650,000 to the Government of Mauritius towards their resettlement and the Government of Mauritius accepted as full and final settlement that payment as meeting our obligation in this matter. Indeed, when the money was finally disbursed in 1978 interest was added to the £650,000 to make it up to £936,000. More recently, there has been the offer of £1.25 million, to which I referred, and finally the additional offer of £300,000 of aid, which my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary offered to them very recently.
§ Lord BrockwayMy Lords, the Minister has stated that diplomatic negotiations will continue despite the breakdown of the talks. Would it not be far better if influence could be exerted to have discussions not only with the Mauritian Government but with the whole of the opposition, the whole of Mauritius and the representatives of the exiled people? Will the Government seek to renew those discussions as soon as possible?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, I think that the talks are best conducted with those directly involved who are, of course, the Government of Mauritius and the representatives of Ilois themselves. As I said in the original Answer, we stand ready to continue these discussions when the other parties are ready to do so.