§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether compensation to the 900 families evicted from the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean has been increased in response to their claim for £8 million and, if so, by how much from the original offer of £1.25 million.
§ Lord TrefgarneAn agreement was initialled in Port Louis on the 27th March under which Her Majesty's Government will make anex-gratia payment of £4 million to the Mauritius Government in full and final settlement of all Ilois claims. The Mauritius Government will on its part make available to the Ilois and the Ilois community in Mauritius land to the value of £1 million. The money will be administered by a board of trustees to be established by an Act of the Mauritius Parliament. The agreement is to be formally signed in the near future and will thereafter be subject to internal procedures by both Governments. Parliamentary approval for the expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate in due course. We welcome the settlement of this long outstanding matter which 288WA has been the cause of concern for both Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Mauritius.