§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to facilitate the return of the Ilois to the Chagos archipelago; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo. The islands of the Chagos archipelago are reserved for defence purposes. There is therefore no question of the Ilois being able to return for settlement. In 1982, the United Kingdom Government made an ex gratia payment of £4 million to the Government of Mauritius to set up a trust fund, the express purpose of which was to assist with the resettlement of the Ilois in Mauritius as self-sufficient members of the community. It was warmly welcomed by the Government of Mauritius who, for their part, provided land to the value of £1 million. The Ilois community was fully associated with the agreement, with representatives taking part in the negotiations as members of the all-party Mauritian delgation.