§ Mr. Newensasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the talks she has had with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, and what references were made to the future of Diego Garcia during the course of these.
§ The Prime MinisterI had a useful exchange of views on 7 July with the Prime Minister of Mauritius on political, economic and cultural matters. Diego Garcia was one of the subjects discussed. When the Mauritius Council of Ministers agreed in 1965 to the detachment of the Chagos Islands to form part of British Indian Ocean territory, it was announced that these would be available for the construction of defence facilities and that, in the event of the islands no longer being required for defence purposes, they should revert to Mauritius. This remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.