§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the progress achieved during the last year in resettling and compensating the populations of Diego Garcia and other British possessions in the Indian Ocean, removed in order to facilitate the development of military bases;
(2) how many people who were removed from British possessions in the 422W Indian Ocean to make way for the creation of military bases have still not been fully compensated and properly resettled; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RowlandsIn 1973 Her Majesty's Government paid £650,000 to the Mauritian Government to provide for the resettlement of these people. The Mauritian Government acknowledged this payment as a full and final discharge of Her Majesty's Government's obligations.
The Mauritian Government informed us last year of their difficulties in devising an acceptable plan for using this money, and as a result the adviser on social development at the Ministry of Overseas Development visited Mauritius in late January and early February this year. Mr. Prosser's report has been submitted to the Mauritian Government, who, we understand, are considering it.