British Indian Ocean Territory (Hansard, 9 September 2004)

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the government of the British Indian Ocean territory is funded; and if he will make a statement. [187614]

§ Mr. Rammell
The government of the British Indian Ocean territory is funded mainly by the sale of fishing licences, although there is also a small amount of revenue from the sale of stamps, fines and related charges, and administrative fees.

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) monetary payments and (b) monetary discounts were received by the UK Government from the US Administration or affiliated bodies in return for the agreement governing the joint use of Diego Garcia by the two countries in (i) 1966 and (ii)1976; and if he will make a statement. [187611]

§ Mr. Rammell
The United States Government agreed in 1966 to contribute half of the total cost, up to a limit of £5 million, of setting up the British Indian Ocean Territory by waiving to that extent research and development surcharges for the United Kingdom purchase of the Polaris missile system. No payments or discounts were made in respect of the establishment of the United States Defence Facility in Diego Garcia in 1976.

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place a copy of the US Administration's Natural Resources Management Plan for Diego Garcia in the Library. [187612]

§ Mr. Rammell
The US Natural Resources Management Plan for Diego Garcia, currently under revision by the US authorities, is not a public document.

§ Mr. Salmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans have been made to allow tourists travelling with the Wexas travel company to visit the waters of the Chagos Archipelago; and if he will make a statement. [187609]
1377W

§ Mr. Rammell
A visit to some of the outer islands of the British Indian Ocean Territory has been arranged under the auspices of Wexas International primarily in order to monitor the natural environment of the islands.