§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the distribution of £4 million given to the Mauritius Government in 1982. [141065]
§ Mr. BattleUnder a 1982 Agreement between HMG and the Government of Mauritius, the £4 million paid by HMG was placed in a Trust Fund for the benefit of the Ilois. Power over the distribution of the funds rested with the Fund's Board of Trustees, made up of representatives of the Government of Mauritius and Ilois.
No recent assessment has been made of how the board distributed those funds.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what offer has been made by the US Government on compensation to the Ilois. [141052]
§ Mr. BattleNone that we are aware of but this is a matter for the US Government.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government will complete the feasibility study of the return of the Ibis to the island of Diego Garcia. [141053]
§ Mr. BattleThe feasibility study covers the outer islands, not Diego Garcia. It is too early to specify when the study will be completed. But the terms of reference for the studies, drawn up by independent consultants, make clear that it will not be in less than a year.
837W
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to restore land to former inhabitants, under Clause 4 of the British Indian Ocean Territory Ordinance (2000). [141058]
§ Mr. BattleIn line with the recent court judgment, section 4 of the BIOT Immigration Ordinance 2000 allows the Ibis to visit and remain on the islands of the Territory, excluding Diego Garcia where access will continue to be controlled strictly and will be by permit only. Studies are in hand on the feasibility of resettlement of the outer islands of the territory.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the US Administration over the return of the Ibis to Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement on their employment prospects.[141059]
§ Mr. BattleThe stated hope of Ilois representatives to return to live on Diego Garcia has been discussed with US officials. While there are no plans for them to do so, there are no impediments in BIOT law or policy preventing Ilois from being employed by the contractors on Diego Garcia.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what air access and port facilities are to be made available on Diego Garcia to the Ilois; and at what cost. [141056]
§ Mr. BattleOur discussions with the Americans in the light of the court judgment indicate that these facilities will not be made available as a matter of course.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are planning to offer British citizenship to the Ilois on the same basis as other British Dependent Territory citizens. [141054]
§ Mr. BattleThis matter is being reviewed in the light of the recent court judgment.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to facilitate the return of the people of the Ilois to their homeland. [141055]
§ Mr. BattleThe purpose of the feasibility study is to investigate to what extent the outer islands can be re-inhabited. Any further work will be subsequent to the outcome of this study.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish a committee of inquiry to determine levels of compensation to be paid to the Ilois.[141064]
§ Mr. BattleHMG have paid over £4.5 million for the direct benefit of the Ilois. There is no intention to make any further similar payments. But HMG are undertaking a comprehensive feasibility study, the results of which will give us a better idea of what is possible and what will need to be provided by way of physical and social infrastructure. The costs in terms of public funding will need to be considered at that point.
838W
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training and educational programmes Her Majesty's Government will finance for the Ilois. [141066]
§ Mr. BattleThe feasibility studies will consider what development activities could sustain a new civilian population in BIOT, and identify current skills among the Ibis population who wish to return to the territory. Only when these studies are complete will we be able to assess what is possible.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to facilitate the development of improved economic conditions for the Ilois; and what is the time-frame. [141057]
§ Mr. BattleThe remit of the feasibility studies include economic, financial and social development issues.