§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what considerations led him to send a team of officials to Mauritius in March to discuss compensation to the Ilois people;
(2) why, in March, he sought to expedite the resolution of the problem relating to the Ilois people and Diego Garcia.
§ Mr. OnslowFollowing the adjournment of talks with an all-party delegation from Mauritius, which took place in London in June 1981, we proposed in February this year that a further effort be made to provide a lasting settlement for the Ilois community. This proposal resulted in talks which took place in Port Louis from 22-27 March and the outcome of which was reported to the House on 1 April by my hon. Friend the Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) the then Minister of State.
The Government's approach was based solely on the need to find, as soon as practicable, a solution of this longstanding humanitarian problem that was acceptable to the Ilois and to the Government of Mauritius.