§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his current talks with the Government of Mauritius about Diego Garcians.
§ Mr. EnnalsI met the Prime Minister of Mauritius on 24th September and welcomed his proposal that Her Majesty's Government might assist the Mauritian Government in devising an acceptable resettlement scheme. This will be given high priority.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what petitions have been received in the last decade by the British Government from Diego Garcians living in Mauritius, complaining about their poverty and neglect.
§ Mr. EnnalsOne such petition was received at the British High Commission in Port Louis on 1st October 1974.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he has had from the Government of Mauritius about the way in which £650,000 earmarked for the benefit of Diego Garcia was actively used.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe Mauritian Government have recently informed us of their difficulties in devising an acceptable plan for the resettlement of those transferred from the Chagos Archipelago using the £650,000 paid by Her Majesty's Government for the purpose. The Mauritian Prime Minister has invited us to assist us preparing a suitable scheme.
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§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response has been made to M. Guetin Duval, legal adviser to the Diego Garcia community, that £15 million is needed to provide them with a reasonable standard of living in Mauritius.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy right hon. Friend has received no communication from M. Duval.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been given to the British Government that Diego Garcians in Mauritius are worse off than other Mauritius workers.
§ Mr. EnnalsI understand that a Mauritian Government survey now in preparation accepts that the standard of living of most of those transferred from the Chagos Archipelago is below the average in Mauritius but states that out of 421 families, 243 heads of families have more or less fixed occupations, 57 people receive Mauritian old-age pension and 74 are on Mauritian public assistance.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports were received from their officials in Mauritius on Diego Garcia workers in the years 1968 to 1975.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe British High Commissioner in Port Louis reported on his discussions with Mauritian officials on the question of the resettlement of workers transferred from Diego Garcia to Mauritius.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the expert technical assistance promised to Mauritius by the Minister of State on 24th September for the Diego Garcians.
§ Mr. EnnalsUrgent consideration is being given to sending an adviser or advisers, with the consent of the Government of Mauritius, to help formulate a practical resettlement plan for those concerned.