§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he learned that 35 Diego Garcians spent nine days in prison in the Seychelles on arrival from Diego Garcia.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy Department was informed in October 1971 that eight workers and their families had arrived in Seychelles from Diego Garcia on 30th September of that year and that, owing to the lack of other accommodation, they were housed in an unused modern prison building. This building was completely separate from the main prison. The workers sailed for Mauritius on 8th October.
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§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations he has made as to the authority on which Diego Garcians, visiting Mauritius and the Seychelles on holiday, were denied return passages to Diego Garcia, from 1968 onwards.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo such investigations have been made.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Treasury Solicitor instructed Mr. John Todd, former deputy governor of BIOT, to make no comment on the Diego Garcian case.
§ Mr. EnnalsNo instructions were issued by the Treasury Solicitor to Mr. John Todd. It would, however, not be proper for Mr. Todd to make any comment, since anything he might say could have a bearing on the case which is at present before the court.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on whose authority s.s. "Nordvaer", owned by BIOT, evacuated the last inhabitants of Diego Garcia in 1971.
§ Mr. EnnalsAt all times during 1971 the motor vessel "Nordvaer" was operated on the authority of the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.